Module 43 Lesson

5.12 Women in
Agriculture

6

For this learning goal, you will learn to:

• Explain how the percentage of women in the

agricultural labor force varies worldwide.

• Contrast differences between women in the

subsistence agricultural labor force and in the
commercial agricultural labor force.

How the percentage of women in the agricultural labor
force varies worldwide

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Women in the subsistence agriculture labor force

• Women spend more time in agriculture as men leave the villages to

find work in the cities.

• The Green Revolution has allowed some subsistence societies to

produce a surplus that can be sold in local or regional markets.

How the percentage of women in the agricultural labor
force varies worldwide

8

Women in the subsistence agriculture labor force

• A report by the World Bank indicates that

women in six countries in Africa provide 40
percent of agricultural labor, though their
share varies across countries.

• At the global scale, on average, women in

developing countries involved with subsistence
agriculture comprise about 45 percent of the
agricultural workforce.

How the percentage of women in the agricultural labor
force varies worldwide

9

Women in the commercial agriculture labor force

• 36 percent of all U.S. farm operators are women; in Europe it is 30

percent, and in Australia it is 32 percent.

• Higher numbers of women farmers are located in the eastern and

western margins of the United States.

• These farms are often engaged in dairying and/or market gardening.

How the percentage of women in the agricultural labor
force varies worldwide

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best explains why women were the earliest farmers? 

• a. Women collected seeds and fruits in hunter-gatherer societies and used this knowledge in early plant domestication. 

• b. Women were not successful hunting wildlife over long distances 

• c. Women were the earliest farmers because it kept them closest to the house and children.

• d. Women were smaller in size and it made it easier for them to cultivate the soil and plants. 

  e. Women were not accepted in the business and trade occupations leaving them to work on farms 

• e. Women were not accepted in the business and trade occupations leaving them to work on farms 

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For this learning goal, you will learn to:

• Explain how women’s roles differ between

subsistence and commercial agriculture.

• Contrast differences between women’s roles in

subsistence and commercial agriculture.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Subsistence agriculture

• Women spend more time in agriculture as men leave the villages to

find work in the cities.

• The Green Revolution has allowed some subsistence societies to

produce a surplus that can be sold in local or regional markets.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

Division of labor: How a group divides the range of tasks within a social
system; in subsistence systems, tasks are generally divided based on age
and gender.

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Mixed crop/livestock farming in developing countries

• In general women are responsible for the crops and livestock kept at

or near the homestead.

• Women in mixed crop/livestock societies tend to the crops for the

family and help in the fields for any cash crops cultivated.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Shifting cultivation

• For the most part, women are responsible for sowing the seeds and

harvesting the crop after the men have cleared the plot of vegetation.

• Many women have found it necessary to produce crafts for the local

tourist markets because the harvest of subsistence crops is often not
enough to feed the family.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

15

Paddy rice farming

• Women are responsible for planting, thinning, weeding, harvesting,

and processing the rice plants by hand.

• Women in paddy rice subsistence regions usually are not permitted to

work with the machinery and other technologies.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Nomadic pastoralism

• Pastoralist societies are more male dominated than other subsistence

societies, restricting women’s participation in decision making.

• In some nomadic herding or pastoralist societies, women and

children may be involved with limited seasonal cultivation.

• Some women in pastoralist societies earn a small amount of money

by producing handmade crafts, which they sell at the local market.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Women’s roles in subsistence agriculture: A summary

• Often, cultural barriers prevent women in developing countries from

assuming greater management in farm operations.

• Women in some cultures sell surplus crops, but only at the local

market, not at a regional or global market that would yield more
income.

• Some international programs work within societies’ cultures,

recognizing that both men and women need to be involved in the
empowerment of women.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Commercial agriculture

• As farming became more mechanized during the Second Agricultural

Revolution, many tasks, including cheese and butter making, were
given over to factory production.

• As a result, women’s roles shrunk to those that involved tending to

the household and family garden.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Commercial agriculture

• Overall, almost 40

percent of the
women in
agriculture in the
European Union are
over 65 years old.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Commercial agriculture

• The 2017 U.S.

agricultural census
showed an increase
to 36 percent of all
farms currently
owned by women
farmers.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Similarities and differences: A summary

• There is a formal division of labor in most subsistence societies that is

not present in commercial societies.

• Women in commercial societies often face gender role stereotypes,

but they are easier to address than the culture-based formal division
of labor that exists in subsistence societies.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Similarities and differences: A summary

• Women in subsistence societies often lack full ownership of land,

crops, or livestock, which makes it difficult for them to manage farm
operations and the money that selling crops or livestock might bring
into the household.

• In commercial agriculture women farmers can purchase land,

livestock, and seed, and they can manage general farm operations.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Similarities and differences: A summary

• In both subsistence and commercial agricultural regions, women have

access to important programs to enhance the roles of women in
agriculture.

• In both subsistence and commercial farming economies, the number

of women farmers is increasing, and especially in subsistence
societies they hold a key to global food security.

• As more women become successful in improving agricultural

production, food security will begin to increase at the regional scale,
leading eventually (one hopes) to food security for all people.

How women’s roles differ between subsistence and
commercial agriculture

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Summary and Review

Women, who comprise about 45 percent
of the subsistence agricultural workforce,
spend more time in farming as men leave
the villages to find work in the cities

1) Describe women’s roles in
subsistence agriculture on a
global scale.

2) Describe women’s roles in
commercial agriculture on a
global scale.

Women, who comprise more than 30
percent of the commercial agriculture
workforce, are more commonly involved
with dairying and/or market gardening

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How a group divides the range of tasks
within a social system; in subsistence
systems, tasks are generally divided based
on age and gender

3) Define division of labor.

4) Contrast differences in
gender roles between
subsistence and commercial
agriculture.

Women in commercial societies often face
gender role stereotypes, but they are
easier to address than the culture-based
formal division of labor that exists in
subsistence societies

Summary and Review

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5) Contrast differences in farm
ownership between
subsistence and commercial
agriculture.

6) Describe similarities
regarding women’s roles in
subsistence and commercial
agriculture.

Women have access to important
programs, the number of women farmers
is increasing, and as more women become
successful in improving agricultural
production, food security will increase

Summary and Review

Women in subsistence societies often lack
full ownership of farms, whereas in
commercial agriculture women farmers
can purchase land, livestock, and seed,
and they can manage general farm
operations

Poll

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