An intersectional analysis of gender and marital status in shaping climate change perceptions and behavioral intentions among small-scale fishers in Palau

Context An intersectional gender approach is increasingly recognized as key for supporting more equitable and climate-resilient management of small-scale fisheries, but there is a limited understanding of the nuanced relationships among social identities. Marital status is a locally-relevant social identity that can shape gendered roles and influence access to natural resources in the Pacific, yet its intersection with gender remains vastly understudied. Aims In this study, we use national survey data of Palauan fishers (N = 479) to explore differences in perceptions of climate change and behavioral intentions to a major decline in catch across married versus unmarried men and women. Key results Gender was associated with differences across more measures than marital status. However, when examined within gender, marital status was associated with more differences among women than men, particularly in the number of perceived threats, the number of observed climate impacts, and intentions to maintain current fishing effort. Conclusions Our findings underscore the importance of using intersectional analyses as a locally-grounded, analytical method for understanding in-group gendered differences. Implications This study also provides methodological insight into the importance of locally-led environmental social science research in the design and analysis of research instruments.