Women are often an overlooked sector of the agricultural workforce. They may be the farm bookkeeper, but an off-farm job might classify them as a teacher and not a farmer.
As the 21st century moves through its second decade, the roles of women in agriculture are becoming more clear.
A recent report released by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council examines the opportunities available to women in agriculture but it indicates more needs to be done to increase gender diversity in the industry.
The Supporting the Advancement of Women in Agriculture project provides a needs assessment that offers some surprises.
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Liz Robertson, executive director of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisers and one of the advisory group members who wrote the report, says women are asking to be included.
“I’m seeing a shift in intergenerational succession planning,” she says.
Robertson says she has not experienced the barriers described in the report, but she wonders how often women seek leadership roles or if they are asked to fill vacancies on boards or in business.
In the research, men and women were asked if they believe there are barriers preventing women from advancing in agricultural leadership roles. Only 14.6 percent of men responded yes or not sure, while almost 50 percent of women responded similarly.
The respondents indicated the three main barriers are: balancing career and family, breaking into the old boys club and a lack of role models.
In addition, a woman living in a rural area has these added challenges: the remoteness of location, access to training, managing the traditional tasks of child rearing and supporting her husband and male farm workers and pursuing off-farm income to help support the family.
Robertson suggests that positions on boards and in business be filled by women, but concedes outgoing board members often suggest a replacement of their own gender.
Terry Banack, an Alberta farmer and committee member, says women may choose to have more life balance rather than to be at the top of the ladder.
“I feel women have more opportunities now, but it’s also about how we mentor them and raise them up to higher leadership brackets.”
Using the information generated by the report, the council plans to encourage more mentoring and networking among women in agriculture.
Instructive materials will be developed to assist boards and employers develop more opportunities for women and an online resource with links to leadership opportunities and social media networking channels will build career awareness.
