Seeking Post Doc Funding for Fair Trade Study

I am embarking on some post doc research in Peru/Bolivia using ethnographic study and economic theory to measure the differences that country support and gender create in Fair Trade.  This will build on my doctoral research on the effect of Fair Trade on indigenous women in the Andes region.

The rules are the same globally, but different countries support Fair Trade producers in different ways I will do a comparative study of indigenous alpaca knitters in the same Andean region of Bolivia/Peru.  Peru invests more money than Bolivia does in rural economic development and the alpaca industry in particular.  As a result, Peru has a much more vibrant and productive alpaca clothing market than Bolivia does.  Does Fair Trade need to be more country/region specific in its rules? 

Also I want to study how families benefit differently (or not) if the principal Fair Trade member is a male or female.  I suspect that men spend their Fair Trade earnings more on capital investments (equipment, land, larger projects) and women spend their earnings more on the children.  I will do a comparative study of Bolivian Fair Trade families with moms working in crafts versus dads working in agriculture (chocolate, coffee). 

I'm looking for about $6,000 to cover travel and lodging expenses and to pay two helpers (in country).  The study is from May 2012 - July 2012.  I am seeking donations and/or suggestions of where I could go for such funding. 

I now have a publisher interested in the project which is good.

Please respond for more info. Thanks!

Tamara Stenn, DA
Keene State College
Adjunct Professor: Integrative Studies, Fair Trade, Management, Economics

"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness." Howard Zinn

Authoring White Papers

As an acacemic working in Fair Trade, I have been writing academic papers presenting much detail on different aspects of Fair Trade in reation to its effect on the quality of life of women, the degree of justice it brings to producers, the economic valididty of such a model of trade, and the many ways in which it can be interpreted and understood and which way may be is fairer or more just.

This is important work in deepening the understanding and possibilities of Fair Trade, especially in these times of change and reconfiguration within the Fair Trade industry.

I have been touching upon issues such as power, justice, poverty, capabilities, human development, management, feminism, economic development, social justice, indigenous knowledge, intercultural management. 

And writing for academic journals in the fields of Feminist Economics, Management, Business Ethics, Human Development, Economic Development, and Social Economics.

The following are a series of introductions to journal articles which have recently been presented at national and regional Economic Conferences and are currently undergoing peer review for publication in several academic journals.  I welcome comments and feedback.

I will continue to post new articles and papers here as well. 

I am currently preparing for my next round of research in the Andes region to examine the difference in how Fair Trade is experienced by families and whether or not there is a difference if the primary person working in Fair Trade is a man or woman.  I will also be examining the difference that government plays as I compare Fair Trade Andean women in Bolivia to those in Peru - working in the same industry and from the same ethnic group.  The results of this research will be published in future papers and will be a part of an interdisciplinary textbook I am writing on Fair Trade, Justice, and Feminism.

Thank you for visiting.  I hope you find this blog useful and interesting.

The effects of Fair Trade on indigenous Knitters - abstract

I examined Fair Trade and its effect on the experiences of Bolivian women knitters within the context of justice as theorized by Amartya Sen. 

Sen’s theory of justice revolved around three arguments; justice needed to be broadly understood – encompassing conflicting ideas and experiences; expanding capabilities and opportunities brought greater freedom and more justice; public reasoning and democracy smoothed out justice’s inconsistencies enabling it to be more fully realized.

Fair Trade is held up by four pillars.  US and European Fair Trade institutions set the rules and impetus for Fair Trade to take place.  Fair Trade producers create goods in accordance to Fair Trade guidelines.  Consumers purchase these goods.  Governments, policy, and democracy support the space in which this trade is experienced. 

Knitters’ own understanding of Fair Trade was captured through field research and ethnographic study.  Research tools such as the Talking Stick and Participatory Rural Appraisal were engaged to enable knitters to guide and define the study. The researcher’s 15 years of experience in Fair Trade knitting in Bolivia brought a deep knowledge of the people and customs. 

My study found that Fair Trade increased justice for the knitters, to a degree.  Women reported positive economic outcomes; growth in self-esteem and leadership skills; and pride in new skills learned.  They were challenged by inconsistent orders; stress from deadlines coupled with family responsibilities; and physical ailments - eye strain, repetitive motion injuries, and respiratory ailments - from knitting long hours at home.

I also  found, through ethnographic methods, that by taking the time to listen to producers, the negative effects of Fair Trade could be better understood and made more positive.  Aligned with  Sen’s theory of justice, I found that more engagement by all parties would make Fair Trade more just.  This work is significant in that it creates a new understanding of justice and trade and enables women’s voices to be heard.