Rural women still marginalized despite their role in the economy

Rural women still marginalized despite their role in the economy

Rural women play a crucial role in agriculture, whether they are self-employed, family workers, or salaried employees. Nevertheless, the issue of gender equality continues to be of concern with women being viewed as marginalized compared to men. This state of affairs will serve as the background to events dedicated to the International Day of Rural Women. Celebrated by the United Nations every year on 15 October since 2008, this event serves to commemorate the importance of rural women, including those in indigenous communities, and their role in fighting poverty and inequality.

As of 2019, globally, 36% of the female workforce was employed in agriculture, compared to 38% of the male workforce. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, 66% of women in the labor force were working in agri-food systems, and in southern Asia, this percentage reached 71%. While globally, compared to 2005, employment in agriculture for both men and women declined by around 10 percentage points, the patterns vary across different countries. For instance, in Nepal in 2019, the percentage of women employed in agriculture increased compared to 2005, reaching around 64%. The trend was also similar in Bangladesh and Afghanistan, reaching 45.3% and 33.7%, respectively, in 2019, compared to 36.2% and 25.6% in 2005.

While the role of women in agriculture is obviously significant, the opportunities for men and women in agri-systems are not equal. Women occupy marginalized positions, and the employment conditions are different to those of men. Women in agriculture often hold unstable, part-time, or informal positions and are exposed to risks and vulnerabilities. At the same time, women in agriculture earn less than men, for example in salaried employment, women earn only 82 cents for every dollar earned by men.

Fig.1. The share of women and men in total agrifood-system employment, and by subcomponent of agrifood systems in 2019

Source: FAO Click to Enlarge

In general, gender equality remains a distant dream, and it will take humanity another 286 years to remove the regulations that place women in an unfair position. From this perspective, rural women are particularly sensitive to legal loopholes as, according to the United Nations, around 60% of the countries analysed have little or no protection when it comes to women’s right to land. In addition, women also face systematic disparities in relation to value chains as they are less likely to be engaged in cash- and export-commodity chains that have high returns. The reason for this is that women do not have equal access to water, land, energy, education, and complementary resources.

When considering the disparities brought about by climate change and global warming that predominantly affect those on the frontline in rural areas, rural women face unprecedented difficulties. Furthermore, progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals will require equal opportunities for both women and men. Therefore the achievement of these goals will not possible be without the empowerment of women which is very important to achieve as currently they bear the brunt of inequalities.

See also: International Day of Rural Women. Challenges and Opportunities | Experts’ Opinions

It is crucial for policymakers and regulators to develop comprehensive strategies that prioritize gender equality. Education, empowerment, and the removal of systemic barriers are vital components on the journey towards a more equitable future.