Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T18:57:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6252.pdf: 1169350 bytes, checksum: 65f37ac8104b9969ea884980e1e529a9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-07 / This study aims to visualize the work performed by women in agriculture. Part assumption that live in a society patriarchal, activities in the life of reproduction are considered less important by do not generate direct income. It has the objective of presenting the reality of rural women workers and the importance of his work for food security and agroecology. Thus verifying, the context of agrarian issues experienced by them; identifying women's access to public policies; confirming the work performed by them; by viewing their forms of agricultural production; and ascertaining conception of agroecology and feminism by women. To analyze this context was used the method of qualitative research. Within the agricultural universe, was only researched women, aiming to evidence their looks over the reality. The research shows that women are being impacted by the agribusiness model and that still find difficult to advance in production in their territories by the difficult access to public policies. Women's work within the production is directed to the subsistence of the family, not being recognized as an indirect source of income; the same is based on an ecologically-based production, generating a diversity of products that ensures the family food security. It is concluded that there is a difference of reality between women that are inserted or not in social organizations; that still facing the limitations caused by the sexual division of labor; and that their work makes a significant contribution in ensuring food security and in the construction of agroecology. / Este estudo busca visibilizar os trabalhos executados pelas mulheres na agricultura. Parte do pressuposto de que vivemos em uma sociedade patriarcal, em que as atividades de reprodução da vida são consideradas como menos importantes por não gerarem renda direta. Possui como objetivo apresentar a realidade das mulheres trabalhadoras rurais e a importância de seu trabalho para a segurança alimentar e para a agroecologia. Verificando assim, o contexto da questão agrária vivida por elas; identificando o acesso das mulheres às políticas públicas; comprovando o trabalho executado por elas; visibilizando suas formas de produção agrícola; e averiguando a concepção de agroecologia e feminismo pelas mulheres. Para analisar este contexto utilizou-se o método da pesquisa qualitativa. Dentro do universo agrícola, foram pesquisadas somente as mulheres, tendo como objetivo evidenciar seus olhares sobre a realidade. A pesquisa mostra que as mulheres vêm sendo impactadas pelo modelo do agronegócio e que ainda encontram dificuldades de avançarem na produção em seus territórios pelo difícil acesso às politicas públicas. Seu trabalho dentro da produção é direcionado para a subsistência da família, não sendo reconhecido como uma fonte de renda indireta; o mesmo se baseia em uma produção de base ecológica, gerando uma diversidade de produtos que garante a segurança alimentar da família. Conclui-se que existe uma diferença de realidade entre mulheres conforme estejam inseridas ou não em organizações sociais; que ainda enfrentam as limitações advindas da divisão sexual do trabalho; e que seu trabalho contribui de forma significativa na garantia da segurança alimentar e na construção da agroecologia.

PHDGS / Institute for Gender and Youth Studies / This study examines the views, understandings, beliefs and practices on the effects of drought and how women cope in this regard. Feminist theories such as the Standpoint theory, Intersectionality, Ecofeminism and Social Construction were used to conceptualize the gender roles and practices that continue to hinder equity between men and women. This study was qualitative in design. The population of the study comprised of men and women living in Shashe village. A total number of people interviewed was 24, 6men and 6 women from focus group and 12 participants for individual participants. A purposive sample of participants was drawn from the population of farmers. The researchers targeted farmers, who are affected by erratic rainfall. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The themes that emananted from the study were; environmental effects, economic effects, food scarcity, health effects, distribution of gender roles and coping strategies to drought. The findings showed that there were paradigm shifts in terms of gender relations with regard to drought in many villages, townships and cities today. Furthermore, cultural patterns embedded in patriarchal relationships are accommodating forms of relationships which are not favourable to women. The study recommends that farmers should also have other sources to generate income other than farming because of the changing weather patterns and also to educate women in all dimensions of agriculture so that they are well informed. / NRF

Cette recherche interroge les conditions de structuration et de perduration d’un engagement séparé pour les femmes dans les organisations et au sein de mobilisations agricoles bretonnes. Majoritairement composés d’exploitantes installées en couple et situés à la frontière entre associations de défense de l’égalité, cercles de sociabilités professionnelles et groupes de parole, les espaces d’encadrement agricole féminins offrent une occasion idoine de questionner non seulement l’imbrication des identités professionnelles et conjugales dans l’engagement mais également la labilité des usages rhétoriques de l'égalité et du féminisme dans des espaces professionnels non-mixtes. L’analyse de leur position dans l’espace de la représentation agricole questionne le degré d’autonomie des revendications portées au nom des agricultrices, leur influence sur les agendas organisationnels et leur effet sur la construction des carrières militantes. L’enquête s’appuie sur un dispositif cumulant une observation de quatre années des activités formelles et informelles des groupes féminins, une étude de leur documentation professionnelle, un recensement de leurs tribunes dans la presse agricole, auxquels s’ajoutent la réalisation d’entretiens avec les actrices qui y sont engagées et la constitution de données statistiques relatives aux mandats féminins dans les organisations agricoles bretonnes depuis 1990. Sur la base d’une analyse croisant les études de genre, la sociologie du militantisme et celle de la représentation professionnelle agricole, notre thèse consiste à démontrer que les groupes et mobilisations d’agricultrices forgent les contours d’une « cause de femmes » agricole mise sous tutelle des intérêts catégoriels et chevillée à l’idéal normatif de la complémentarité des sexes. En tant que réceptacles de positions professionnelles, organisationnelles et conjugales entrecroisées, les espaces de l’engagement féminin produisent des politisations ambivalentes de ces appartenances multiples, à la fois porteuses de contestation comme de reproduction des hiérarchies sexuées et de l’ordre social et politique. / This research looks into the conditions for the structuring and continuation of a separate female activism within Breton organisations and farmers mobilisations. Mainly made up of professionals living in couples and situated at the intersection between gender equality advocacy groups, professional networks and support groups, farming self-help groups are a case in point to question not only the intertwining of professional and marital identities within activism but also the lability of rhetorical uses of equality and feminism within women-only professional spaces. The analysis of their position within the farmers’ representation spaces makes it compelling to question the degree of autonomy of the claims made in the name of women farmers, their influence upon the setting of professional agendas and their impact on the development of activist careers.Evidence was collected through an apparatus which consisted in the addition of a four-year-long observation of female groups’ formal and informal activities, an analysis of their professional literature, an inventory of their opinion columns inside the farm press, to which can be added semi-structured interviews with women farmers engaged in this activism and the setting up of statistical data about female mandates within Breton farm organisations since the 1990s. Drawing on an analysis which mixes gender studies, sociology of militancy and studies of farming professional representation, this PhD aims to demonstrate that women farmers groups and mobilisations shape the features of a farming “women cause” although it is subordinated to corporatist interests and seen through the lenses of the normative ideal of complementarity between the sexes. Being a repository of interlinked professional, organisational and matrimonial standpoints, female activism spaces lead to the ambivalent politicisation of plural belongings. These multiple affiliations can be a catalyst for protest as well as a way to reproduce sexual hierarchies and social and political order.

This research seeks to address the gap in the literature on women, health, and environments by exploring the factors that motivate Jamaican women farmers to practice organic agriculture and how these might relate to their understandings of environment and health. The experiences and decisions of women farmers are also positioned within wider historical contexts of colonialism and agricultural change. Integrating a variety of theoretical frameworks, including public issues anthropology, ethnoecology, rural sociology, and feminist political ecology, my own scholarly analysis is merged with the perspectives of the women farmers interviewed in this qualitative study. This research found that women organic farmers in Jamaica were motivated by various factors related to environment and health and impacted by the island’s legacy of slavery and industrialization. The findings of this thesis can be used to encourage the practice of organic agriculture and to improve human health and environmental wellbeing in Jamaica and beyond. / Richard and Sophia Hungerford Travel Scholarship, Yeandle Family Graduate Scholarship, Richard and Sophia Hungerford Graduate Scholarship, Registrar’s Research Grant for Graduate Students, Registrar’s Research Travel Grant

Few female farmers are participating in the sector due to various gender-based challenges that they face. The purpose of this study was to investigate prospective farmers’ motivation and their personal attitude to starting their own businesses, as well as their perceptions of barriers to successful business start-ups in the sector. The Prospective Farmers Profile Questionnaire was distributed to 421 prospective farmers (agricultural students at six institutions of higher learning in South Africa). There was an estimated 3,486 students enrolled for various agriculture-related qualifications in the country when this cross-sectional, quantitative study was carried out. The aim of the study was to investigate perceived gender-based barriers to business start-up amongst prospective farmers in SA. The study found perceived barriers to be either intrinsic, (such as, risk aversion, innovation and self efficacy) and extrinsic, examples being, social cultural, political skills and access to land among others factors. The study also intended to find out if (1) motivation to start a business (2) taking responsibility (entrepreneurial orientation) and (3) entrepreneurial intention, were predicted by a number of select business start up factors. The findings were that motivation was predicted by only one business start up factor, socio-cultural forces; while four key factors; motivation, proactiveness, creativity and socio-cultural forces did predict taking responsibility (EO). Entrepreneurial intention (EI) is predicted by three key factors, namely socio-cultural forces, motivation and creativity. It is recommended that prospective farmers be introduced to the importance of social networking and socio-cultural forces in entrepreneurship. Furthermore, entrepreneurial education is required from government, institutions of higher learning and other organisations to educate prospective farmers on the influence of barriers to business start-up.The study was conducted on undergraduate agricultural students and should be extended to post-graduate farmers in South Africa, that is practising farming. A comparison between prospective farmers and prospective entrepreneurs from other disciplines should also be undertaken.This is a South African study and the results cannot be generalised. Therefore, the study could be expanded to other regions and future comparative studies could be done. / Applied Management / D. Phil. (Entrepreneurship in the Faculty of Management Sciences)