Bringing women into policy discussions on food and agriculture

A row to hoe: the gender impact of trade liberalization on our food system, agricultural markets and women's human rights  

Spieldoch, A. / Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) , 2007 

This paper examines how women have been affected by changes in the food system within the global context of international trade and investment. The author outlines the need for further research to deepen the understanding of why women must be involved in policy decisions that affect agriculture and food security. The basis for this paper is rooted in the following observations:

• rules for agriculture are changing
• women's long-standing traditional roles in agriculture have been largely ignored, especially by economists
• women are not affected the same way as men by the changes in agriculture
• because of women's different traditional roles, impacts on their livelihoods need to be understood
• gender-blind policy making has deepened some of the traditional inequities as well as created some new ones

The author uses a number of case studies of women in agriculture in developing countries to examine how they are affected by trade and investment policy changes and pointing to the importance of a gender analysis. The case studies look at rice, corn, cashews, cut flowers, and poultry.

The author concludes that women, because of their particular roles in agriculture, are disproportionately affected by changes in agriculture, and at the same time are disproportionately absent from policy discussions. It is argued that research has not kept pace with the recent sweeping changes in trade and agriculture, and how they pertain to gender inequity. Finally, the author argues that ensuring that gender is a core component of alternative policymaking while taking into account the many layers of research that need consideration will lead towards the realization of food sovereignty and the right to food.

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