Are people in rural areas, particularly women, connected to their local communities? And are women in the country connected to other women in nearby towns?
Carolyn Pletsch, program co-ordinator of Rural Women Making Change, a research alliance based in Guelph, Ont., said the answer is no on both counts.
Young, rural women likely have smaller networks and fewer friends than women who lived in rural areas 25 or 50 years ago.
“I would say to you that the woman who lives in rural Manitoba now probably knows half of the people that her predecessor knew and probably doesn’t care that much because she’s got her own thing going on,” said Pletsch, who conducted a survey to assess the status and future prospects of more than 300 rural women’s groups in Canada.
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“She (a young woman) has access through the internet to the rest of the world, where Grandma didn’t have that. So she doesn’t really feel isolated.”
Bonnie Proven, a director with Campus Manitoba, an organization that facilitates access to post-secondary education, questioned Pletsch’s assumption.
Young, rural women know more people than previous generations because they are likely employed off the farm, she said.
“Rural women are working outside of the home…. So I think they’re connected through those work circles,” said Proven, who lives in Minnedosa, Man.
Both academics agree that the way women connect in 2011 looks different than it did 50 years ago.
With her own income, vehicle and laptop computer, today’s rural woman might have more friends, acquaintances and interests in a nearby city or in another country than she does in the community where she lives.
However, that lack of local connection and commitment might be causing rural areas to deteriorate. In many small towns on the Prairies, there are fewer people willing to organize a fundraiser for the curling rink or join traditional rural groups like the women’s institute.
While young women may blame family, work and other commitments for their lack of time for volunteering, Proven thinks the real reason is changing values.
“I think the word traditional rural organization may be telling. Younger women aren’t seeing the relevance of some of the rural women’s organizations of a generation or two ago.”
Wendy Bulloch, Literacy Partners of Manitoba executive director, isn’t convinced lack of time is preventing women from getting involved.
Bulloch, who lives in Brandon, did a study 10 years ago for the Manitoba Women’s Institute to determine why women between the ages of 25 and 45 weren’t joining rural organizations.
She and others held focus groups with women across the province, including young moms who had left the workforce to live on the farm and raise children.
“The top reason, a lot of times … was this feeling of, ‘I just don’t know if I can do this’ … maybe needing a bit of a confidence booster,” said Bulloch. Some women felt they didn’t have the necessary skills or knowledge to make a contribution, she said.
Valerie MacKay of Belmont, Man., lacked the confidence to take on a leadership role in her community prior to joining the Southwest Farm Women’s Network. It helps farm and rural women deal with challenges in their lives through education, support and sharing.
“Eighteen years ago, I couldn’t have talked (to a journalist) on the phone, I would’ve been so nervous,” she said. “(Since joining the group), I’ve learned how to organize, how to run meetings and how to chair groups. I’ve just blossomed immensely.”
MacKay also discounted the premise that today’s young moms are too busy for additional commitments.
“You either make time in your life to do what you want to do, what is rewarding for you, or you stay at home and let somebody else do it.”
Proven said some are saying no to extra responsibilities while others are already dedicated to social causes and taking action to change the world.
Advocating for change looks different today than it did in the 1960s and 1970s, said Proven.
After exploring internet use and social media sites, she now believes in the power of these tools for global action and social justice.
“I see people learning, sharing and doing things online that I didn’t comprehend or appreciate…. I’ve learned a lot and I’ve changed some of my attitudes.”
