Gender, health, labor, and inequities: a review of the fair and alternative trade literature

Abstract

Although research into fair and alternative trade networks has increased significantly in recent years, very little synthesis of the literature has occurred thus far, especially for social considerations such as gender, health, labor, and equity. We draw on insights from critical theorists to reflect on the current state of fair and alternative trade, draw out contradictions from within the existing research, and suggest actions to help the emancipatory potential of the movement. Using a systematic scoping review methodology, this paper reviews 129 articles and reports that discuss the social dimensions of fair and alternative trade experienced by Southern agricultural producers and workers. The results highlight gender, health, and labor dimensions of fair and alternative trade systems and suggest that diverse groups of producers and workers may be experiencing related inequities. By bringing together issues that are often only tangentially discussed in individual studies, the review gives rise to a picture that suggests that research on these issues is both needed and emerging. We end with a summary of key findings and considerations for future research and action.

Effects of certification schemes for agricultural production on socio-economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

“…Further, Terstappen et al (2013) undertook a systematic scoping review on the social dimensions of Fairtrade, focusing on gender, health, labour and equity in particular. Overall, the three reviews present an account of the existing research, identify some methodological issues (Terstappen et al, 2013;Nelson and Pound, 2009), and make future research recommendations (Terstappen et al, 2013;Vagneron and Roquigny, 2011). None of these reviews, however, provide sufficient information on the searching and synthesis process, nor do they systematically assess the quality of the studies they include.…”

“…Another reason for conducting a systematic review with this broad scope, apart from expanding our knowledge of evidence beyond well-known cases such as Fairtrade, is the general preliminary assessment that the main bulk of studies is still characterised by evaluation designs vulnerable to validity threats, while the description of data collection and analysis tends to be poor, preventing assessments of the quality of the evidence (Terstappen et al, 2013;Ruben, 2013). Some of these critical appraisals also point to an existing bias towards giving more attention to independent agricultural producers as opposed to wage workers (International Trade Centre, 2011, p. 19).…”

Globalisation of agrifood systems and sustainable nutrition

“…Several development initiatives already pursue such gender-sensitive approaches. For instance, certain sustainability standards, such as Fairtrade, consider the promotion of gender equity as an important element in the process of smallholder certification (74) . In a recent study, we analysed the effects of Fairtrade and other sustainability standards on gender roles and nutrition among smallholder coffee farmers in Uganda (70) .…”

Effectiveness of agricultural certification schemes for improving socio-economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries

“…These literature reviews also tend to focus only on selected CS -or even on a single scheme (e.g. Fairtrade, in Terstappen et al 2013;Nelson and Pound 2009). …”