LESS than five years ago, an Australian university study about the farm women’ s movement heralded Canada as a model to inspire other nations.
The Centre for Rural Social Research in Australia praised Canadian farm women’ s groups for influencing rural and farm policies at various government levels, offering valuable networking opportunities, and helping to change attitudes about the value of farm women in the farming operations.
“As a result of the energetic and effective use of the media by Canadian farm women operating through their organized networks, it is quite clear that tomorrow’ s Canadian historians will not be able to complain that the farm women of the 1980s and 1990s were invisible,” wrote the Australian researcher in 1997.
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Since then, many organized networks have crumbled or exist on shaky foundations. Women of Unifarm disappeared last year and the 90-year-old Saskatchewan Women’ s Institutes may fold by the end of this year.
A study released last year by the Saskatchewan Women’ s Agricultural Network said farm women’ s groups are eroding due to lack of government funds, loss of volunteers through rural depopulation, and competition from other responsibilities.
Yet the work is far from done. Farm women still see themselves as invisible pitchforks and studies show they also see themselves as silent sufferers.
Women have accepted more responsibility in keeping farms going.
While women wish to raise important agricultural policy issues, there are fewer of them available to volunteer their time.
The SWAN study found farm women face feelings of isolation and invisibility at many levels. A University of Regina study released this spring shows farm women are under stress from dealing with financial difficulties and overwork on and off the farm.
The U of R study said the impact on farm women has been created by changes in farming over the last three decades, “characterized by economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and massive restructuring fundamentally altering the economic, social and personal circumstances of farm families both at the production and household levels.”
The unprecedented levels of stress from these changes have affected the psychological and physical health of farm women.
Now they need recognition and help. Farm women organizations need more stable funding, and Canada should also lead in providing innovative, accessible rural services.
The U of R study said there is a need to educate policy makers, health-care professionals and service providers to the unique issues faced by farm women and their families.
Education is fine, so long as it is followed by action.
