Indigenous Knowledge,Technology Blending and Gender Implications

Abstract

In the process of industrialization, indigenous (local) knowledge is often devalued relative to the 'modern'knowledge and technologies that develop to serve the needs of the new com modity-generating economy. In developing countries, it is often the case that men and eth nic majorities gravitate toward the emerging modern sector, whereas women, ethnic minor ities and others remain more on the margins of the new economy. This may allow those at the margins to retain indigenous knowledge long after it has been lost by others and, in fact, the sudden commercial interest in indigenous knowledge often targets women and indige nous groups who are furthest removed from the industrial economy as potential sources of local knowledge.

Technology blending (combining indigenous knowledge with 'modern' knowledge and technologies) represents one means of applying and extending local knowledge. This paper examines how technology blending has been used historically in East Asia, and how women's organizations are currently—and might even more in the future—use technology blending as a means of providing cultural and intellectual continuity, and as a means of generating self-sustaining livelihoods. It focuses in particular on botanical/agroforestry knowledge, craft-based knowledge, and medical knowledge and practices as fields in which technology blending has been successfully applied. ¹