Beyond the Waves: Ethnic Socio-Cultural Life and Transforming Women's Roles in the Alappuzha Sea Fishermen Community

Fishing communities, one of the oldest worldwide, have lived along coasts for centuries, intertwined with the seas for daily and long-term needs (Venkataraman & Raghunathan, 2015). Kerala's sea fisher folk, particularly in Alappuzha, have distinct ethnic heritage and traditional knowledge of the sea and fisheries. Their livelihoods are ensured by using this knowledge to guide their fishing activities, understand weather patterns, manage resources, and handle post-harvest. The article discusses the value of fishing as a way of life and the distinctive cultural customs of the fishing community, such as the ethnic as well as the social customs. It draws attention to the difficulties the community faces, including dwindling fish stocks, deteriorating environmental conditions, and the effects of globalization on their means of subsistence. Through an ethnographic study, this research aims to understand the cultural practices, social relationships, and economic activities of the fishermen community. The experiences and roles of women are the main emphasis of this paper's sociocultural analysis of the sea fishing community in Alappuzha. The study also examines the ways in which cultural norms, economic pursuits, and conventions affect women's lives using a qualitative research technique. The findings emphasize the value of women's contributions to the community's way of life, but they also draw attention to the difficulties women encounter in carrying out their responsibilities in a patriarchal society