Gendered Access to Resources and Livelihood Strategies among Herders in Pastoral Areas of Qinghai Province, China

Abstract

This paper examines gendered access to resources and livelihood strategies among Tibetan herders in Serthang village, Qinghai Province, China, and how these processes contribute to the reconfiguration of the pastoral way of life. Drawing on qualitative data from in-depth interviews and participant observation, the study applies a combined framework of property rights and access to analyze how herders gain and maintain access to land, natural resources, and other forms of capital within changing socioeconomic contexts.

The findings show that herders’ access to land and resources has undergone significant changes, shifting mainly from collective management to household-based land use. In practice, access to resources is shaped not only by formal land tenure arrangements, but also by factors such as household economic conditions, kinship relations, local traditions, and social networks. These factors contribute to variations in access to resources across gendered and household categories.

By examining the interaction between property rights arrangements and access mechanisms, this study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, it extends access theory by illustrating how formal institutions and locally embedded practices jointly shape resource access in pastoral areas. Second, it highlights the role of gendered practices in livelihood adaptation and resource governance, thereby offering a more nuanced understanding of the dynamic nature of pastoral life in Qinghai Province.