The purpose of this paper is to analyse the challenges involved in bringing gender analysis together with the analysis of social-ecological resilience and in doing so to provide ways forward that will enable a more meaningful account of gendered social relations in relation to resilience. The co-authors comprise researchers working in the field of gender as well as those working in the field of resilience reflecting our aim to promote constructive collaboration between the fields. The paper is based primarily upon a review of literature which focused closely on studies attending to both gender and fisheries, but which also included other gender studies concerned with other ecological systems, natural resource management, adaptation and climate change where they appeared pertinent. The authors also draw on their experience of working together to build capacity in gender research within World Fish and the Aquatic Agricultural Systems Research program of the CGIAR since 2013.