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S4316186 Finall Thesis.Pdf Opportunities and challenges for women’s empowerment in the gemstone value chain in Madagascar and Thailand Lynda Lawson BSc (Hons) (Psychology) MA (Linguistics) BA Grad. Dip. Ed. A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2020 Sustainable Minerals Institute Abstract Across the globe, coloured gemstones such as sapphire are produced by low technology mining and processing using rudimentary tools. Women engage in this Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) as it has low barriers to entry and can provide some level of finance to support women and their families. Women are also actively engaged in some countries as gemstone traders, cutters and jewellers. This industry has rarely been considered from a global value chain perspective, in particular regarding the role of gender and women’s opportunities for empowerment in the sector. Little attention has been paid to the economic organisation of the sector by business disciplines. In this research I present a feminist inspired examination of the opportunities for women’s empowerment in the gemstone supply chain and a critique of some aspects of current formalisation processes, which may further disempower women. Using a life history methodology, I keep the perspectives and the voices of women in this value chain at the centre of my inquiry into women’s empowerment. Through listening to narratives of harshness and hope and the survival and growth of entrepreneurs and skilled craftswomen and academics, I have uncovered the multi-facetted ways in which change can occur for the better in the lives of women across the gemstone value chain in countries of origin like Madagascar and in the value addition hub of Thailand. I argue for a reimagining of the role of women in the gemstone supply chain using approaches that foster women’s empowerment and draw insights from institutional and entrepreneurship theory as well as current international standards and trends. I present a hybrid, progressive model of formalisation, which prioritises the creation and strengthening of partnerships and builds knowledge for both women working in the supply chain and customers. This research presents the results of three field studies of women’s work across the gemstone value chain, at the beginning of the value chain with Malagasy small-scale sapphire miners and traders, and one closer to the end of the value chain, in the gem hub of Thailand. I found that while the early stages of the value chain are marked by poverty, as women move up the value chain they are empowered both personally and economically and the business logic they use ii moves from survival to entrepreneurship. Disadvantage for women persists across all nodes of the value chain and empowerment requires institutional work at both a systemic and an individual level. However the gemstone value chain can provide a ladder of empowerment for women both financially and personally with opportunities for women to trade and add value in ways that may not always be possible in other small-scale mineral value chains. iii Declaration by Author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, financial support and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my higher degree by research candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis and have sought permission from co- authors for any jointly authored works included in the thesis. iv Publications Included in This Thesis Lawson, L. (2018). Rice, sapphires and cattle: Work lives of women artisanal and small-scale miners in Madagascar. In K. Lahiri-Dutt (Ed.), Between the plough and the pick: Informal, artisanal and small-scale mining in the contemporary world (pp. 171–192). Canberra: The Australian National University Press (ANU). Reproduced here as Chapter 5. Lawson, L., & Lahiri-Dutt, K. (2020). Women sapphire traders in Madagascar: Challenges and opportunities for empowerment. The Extractive Industries and Society, 7(2), 405-411. Reproduced here as Chapter 6. Lawson, L. (2019). Women working in the Thai coloured gemstone industry: Insights from entrepreneurial ecosystems. The Extractive Industries and Society, 6(4), 1066–1074. Reproduced here as Chapter 7. v Submitted Manuscripts for publication included in This Thesis No Manuscripts Submitted for publication included. Other Publications During Candidature No other publications. Contributions by Others to This Thesis Ms Madhula Bandyopadhyay was employed as a technical editor to assist with formatting, proofing and checking of references only. The only other contribution to this thesis is listed under ‘Publications included in this thesis’. Statement of Parts of This Thesis Submitted to Qualify for Another Degree No works submitted towards another degree have been included in this thesis. Research Involving Human or Animal Subjects Ethical Clearance Number 14.001 Ethical Clearance was granted in January 2014 by Dr Kirstie Gillespie Chair of SMI ethics committee and subsequently reviewed by Professor Deanna Kemp Head of Ethics Committee in 2016 (see Appendix 2). Amendments Approval number 2017001790 Amendments were made in December 2018 to topic and questions ( rFLOWKS) and November 2019 to extend the research in Bangkok (see Appendix 2). vi Acknowledgements First, of all I am grateful for the opportunity afforded me to study and work at The University of Queensland at the Sustainable Minerals Institute and in particular to the leadership of Professor David Brereton and Professor Deanna Kemp. Special thanks go to my supervisory team: Dr Kathryn Sturman, my principal supervisor, thank you for being a steady hand and critical friend. Professor Saleem Ali, thank you for faithful professional mentoring, and opening up of opportunities for me. You suggested I research the ASM of gemstones and then found ways for me to make this happen. Professor Liesch, thank you for your interest in this project lasting over five years and for introducing me to theory and new disciplines. Professor Martie-Louise Verreynne, thank you for teaching me about entrepreneurship and for giving me very rapid feedback on all my drafts. Professor Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt of the ANU, a special word of thanks for working with me and inspiring me through your work on ASM and women. Charles Lawson, geologist and gemmologist, thanks for teaching me all I know about corundum. To my many friends in Madagascar, my deepest thanks. A special mention goes to Eulalie Tanteliniony who was my cultural guide, gatekeeper, and translator. My deepest gratitude to you. In Thailand, I wish to especially thank Dr Pornsawat Wathanakul, Mrs Prapee Sorakraikitikul, and Dr Malin Sawatekitithum for opening doors into the Thai industry and encouraging me in my research. A thesis spanning over five years requires the patience and grace of family and friends, in particular my husband, Johann and my son, Daniel. My love and thanks. I dedicate this thesis to the many women who make their living across the gemstone value chain, particularly in Madagascar and Thailand. vii Financial support The field work for the research in Chapter 6 was supported by a grant from the Tiffany and Co Foundation. No other financial support was provided to fund this research. Keywords Gender, empowerment, artisanal and small scale mining, gemstones, value chains, entrepreneurship, institutional theory, Madagascar, Thailand Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC: 1699 Other Studies in Human Society 50% ANZSRC: 150399 Business and Management not elsewhere classsifed 50% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR Code : 1503 Business and Management 50% FoR Code: 1699 Other Studies in Human Society 50% viii List of Contents Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………..…… …....ii Declaration by author…………………………………………………………………………….iv Publications Included in This Thesis ............................................................................................. v Contributions by Others to This Thesis ........................................................................................ vi Statement of Parts of This Thesis Submitted to Qualify for Another Degree ........................... vi Ethical
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