Gender dimensions of agricultural ethics

Abstract

Agriculture is one of the oldest and most transformative of human activities, performed in social contexts. Due to the complexity of social structures, the lived experiences of farmers are deeply influenced by gendered conventions. The world is dependent on women’s work but there is a legacy of their contributions not being equally valued. This chapter provides an important overview of equity focused research aimed at better understanding women’s contributions in food production. Specifically, it presents a detailed overview of gender-sensitive research in agriculture, since its initial development in the 1970s and 1980s. While women contribute substantially to agricultural production, there are unique challenges and barriers that impact women in this sector. The chapter includes an overview of research performed in gender and development circles, as well as work on the gender dimensions of agricultural in the global North. It ends by discussing emerging themes in the literature.