The global issue of plastic waste has gained significant attention, especially following China’s 2018 ban on plastic waste imports. Developed countries, including Singapore, Japan, and Australia, have since redirected their plastic waste to Southeast Asian nations like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This shift has caused receiving countries to begin returning waste to its origins, intensifying the urgency for these nations to address their domestic waste problems. With the COVID-19 pandemic further disrupting transnational waste flows, localized solutions for managing plastic waste have become critical.
This research project focuses on the role of women in household plastic waste management, examining how gendered labor within households influences the consumption and disposal of plastics. This “feminization” of waste management is further complicated by green consumption trends, which often target women as the primary consumers of environmentally friendly products. Additionally, government policies aimed at reducing household plastic waste typically focus on altering individual behaviors, particularly those of women, who are often seen as the primary actors in waste management due to their traditional roles in domestic work.
The study highlights the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into environmental policies, as women often bear the brunt of household waste management due to existing gender norms. This research aims to fill a gap in the literature by exploring how women’s roles in managing household plastic waste intersect with broader social and cultural dynamics, contributing to the ongoing discourse on gender and environmental sustainability. We seek to:
Advance research on environmental sustainability by examining how gender and intersecting factors influence household plastic waste management through ethnographic studies and surveys.
Contextualize household plastic waste issues within the broader history of women’s domestic practices by conducting archival research and life history interviews with individuals aged 70 and older.
Focus on local nuances and comparative differences among three countries by analyzing localized and transnational social media discourses through social media monitoring and representative surveys.