Tradition, Transformation, and Community Resilience: Communal Social Practices of Gwadar Fisherfolk (1958 to 2020)

Abstract

This paper explores the social life of the fisher folk in Gwadar from the years 1958 to 2020 with respect to the kinship structures, gender roles, and cultural rituals of the fisher folk. Even though previous research gave significant priority to economic and developmental approaches, the present study puts focus on social cohesion, cultural continuity, and community agency. The study is conducted in a qualitative format, through a series of in-depth interviews, oral histories, and participant observation to unravel the lived experience and intergenerational knowledge transfer. The results indicate that close kinship ties and community cohesiveness are still among the core elements of social organization. There is a slow positive change in gender roles in the economy and law of managing the household. Cultural beliefs such as marriage rituals, traditional clothing, music, dancing, and handicrafts help preserve identity, whereas religion, visits to shrines, folk medicine, and charity strengthen communal and dynamic cultural adjustment.