The Rural Voice, 1991-07, Page 27SPECIAL REPORT: WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE
Female farmers are also up against
three myths: superior male techno-
logical know-how, the male farming
alone, and the physical strength
requirement.
Leckie maintains that men ex-
perience the same difficulties with
complex equipment as women, and
some female farmers demonstrated
considerable technological expertise.
"My father fixed most things with
binder twine and baling wire, but my
brother takes his combine back to the
dealer for repairs," she says.
The image of the man working
alone doesn't recognized the contri-
butions of wives and children. Con-
versely, if a woman hires help, she is
sometimes not considered a "real"
farmer.
The third myth belies the reality
that some women are as strong as
some men. Women have always done
heavy work on farms. Frequently
what appears to be a problem with
strength is really due to inadequate or
outdated equipment and facilities.
Leckie concludes her findings by
stressing that female farmers must
develop confidence in their own abil-
ities, and others should understand and
appreciate who they are, their vital
role in their community, and the
barriers they face. Listening to their
experiences will identify ways in
which their particular needs could be
better met by agricultural policy
makers, educators, organizations,
services, and businesses.
"Women are poorly
represented in the
decision-making process"
The OFWN's concern about the
low participation of women in leader-
ship roles within agricultural organiza-
tions was the impetus for their project.
Initial research disclosed that in
1990, only six of 22 provincial mar-
keting boards and commissions had
any female directors. The score was
16 out of 22 for regulatory boards, and
10 out of 11 on advisory boards and
agencies. In most instances, men
greatly outnumbered women.
As part of their course in Rural
Planning Synthesis, five University of
Guelph graduates held a series of
work -shops throughout Ontario, for
women who were or are serving on
decision-making bodies, to put a hu-
man face on the statistics. Their find-
ings, as outlined in "Breaking
Barriers," complemented and under-
scored Leckie's study.
The study concluded that the ab-
sence of women's skills perspectives
and ideas is a serious shortcoming of
farm organizations, fostering a lack of
sensitivity to the impact of decisions
upon farm women. A balanced view-
point of the industry requires equal
representation of both sexes.
Constraints keeping women from
leadership positions were pinpointed:
other priorities such as child care and
off -farm work; prohibitive costs of
travel and time; unwillingness to con-
front traditional customs and stereo-
types; and real or perceived lack of
emotional and moral support from
family and friends.
New study is first ever
in Canada on role of
women in farming
Identifying the needs has been
invaluable in setting goals. The
OFWN will ask farm organizations
and provincial boards for written
criteria regarding qualifications for
executive positions, and request
changes in voting procedures to
recognize spouses' contributions.
The OFWN will encourage and
assist OMAF rural organizations
service branches to provide courses
for men and women on topics such as
assertiveness and leadership training,
specific commodities, and issues such
as GST, Free Trade, and GATT.
Farm women will be encouraged to
take part in agriculture -related meet-
ings, and many holding executive
positions will be urged to actively
solicit other women's participation.
Leckie's profile on female farmers,
completed in Decem-ber, has created
quite a stir. She has been interviewed
on radio and TV since an article in an
UWO publication was picked up by
national and international news media.
Leckie was looking for a topic for
her doctoral dissertation at the same
time as her youngest brother took over
the family farm near Sarnia that she
had left 20 years before. This sparked
the thought "Why the assumption that
sons are better able to farm than
daughters?" And, as a social geo-
grapher, she "wanted to study people,
not rocks."
Preliminary research turned up a
U.S. report on American female farm-
ers (based on census data), but no
comparable study on Canadian
women. She knew she was exploring
new territory.
She says the study has ben a per-
sonally enriching experience for its
author. "I came away with a sense of
amazement and admiration at what
these women had accomplished. They
persisted when no one else gave a
word of encouragement, or went
through an incredibly traumatic time
in deciding to go ahead despite oppo-
sition. Most came out triumphant,"
she recalls.
Leckie predicts the number of
female farmers will increase. The
ongoing need for a support network to
make the transition easier is obvious.
To smooth their path, changes must
occur in farm organizations, the edu-
cation system, interpersonal rela-
tionships, and agricultural policy.
"I don't see this as just a `woman'
problem, but as a collective problem,"
she explains. "Men have to take some
responsibility for these changes too,
even if it's just recognizing the wife's
true contribution in a husband and
wife operation, and not being afraid to
say this in public."
Change requires a many -pronged
effort, from top government to volun-
teer organizations, to make women
more aware of opportunities, and
encourage them to participate.
"The more we can get women in
all aspects of agricultural production,
at the farm level and within the institu-
tional structures, the more equitable
the system will become, and the more
tolerant of other points of view," she
concludes.
JULY 1991 23