The Performance of Occupational Closure: The Case of Agriculture and Gender

Abstract

It is generally accepted that gendered occupational closure is a thing of the past and the inequalities that women now experience in the labour market are due to segregation and segmentation of employment. In this article it is argued that agriculture still displays gendered occupational closure. Previous research has considered structural closure, focusing on patrilineal inheritance and exclusion from farming organizations. Here structural exclusion is considered, but more attention is paid to the interactional processes of occupational closure. Consideration is given to symbolic interaction, non‐verbal communication, exclusionary tactics and language. How the dominant group justify their actions is considered along with the justification sometimes offered by the subordinate group. How structure and agency intertwine is considered alongside how change occurs. The research is based on qualitative interviews and focus groups conducted in Scotland. The article concludes that change does and has occurred, but the rate of change in agriculture remains low because of processes of gendered structural and interactional social closure.

Tempered disruption: Gender and agricultural professional services

“…Stereotypical ideas around the body and gender differences in strength and power have been influential in shaping gender roles in regional and rural areas, particularly with regard to farming (Little & Leyshon, 2003). It continues to be the norm that men own farm land and pass it on their sons (Shortall, McKee, & Sutherland, 2020). Ideologies of the family and women as farm wives reinforce power relations on farms, securing men's dominant position and the patrilineal succession of property (Asztalos‐Morell & Brandth, 2007).…”

How to Foster Rural Sustainability through Farming Workforce Rejuvenation? Looking into Involuntary Newcomers’ Spatial (Im)mobilities

“…One cultural barrier which needs to be targeted here is masculinisation. Involuntary newcomers are more often dominated by negative representations of farming as dirty and heavy work for which women are seen by men as unfit, or by young women as "a man's work" [41]. This explains why more men engage in farming as involuntary newcomers, whether they are remainers or migrants [13].…”

Las Mujeres Como Agentes Para La Cohesión Territorial De Los Destinos Turísticos Rurales

“…En la actualidad, el medio rural continúa siendo hostil para las mujeres (Little, 2015), provocando la persistencia del éxodo rural femenino (Baylina, 2019) y que algunas de las tareas más exigentes, como el cuidado a personas dependientes, se mantenga a cargo de las mujeres (Camarero y Sampedro, 2016). De igual manera, se mantiene la segregación y segmentación por género en el mercado laboral rural (Shortall et al, 2020). Es decir, la concentración de mujeres en trabajos catalogados como de mujeres, caracterizados por salarios bajos y limitado desarrollo de la carrera profesional elegida.…”

“…Por un lado, muestra a la mujer en núcleo familiar y el punto de fuga para su desinvisibilización (Wright y Annes, 2014). Partiendo de los rasgos generales del trabajo invisible que realiza la mujer (Pérez, 2014), el trabajo doméstico sigue siendo poco valorado y continúa la división tradicional de tareas en el núcleo familiar (Shortall et al, 2020). Cuestiones como la masculinización de los sectores productivos del sector primario y la titularidad y acceso a la tierra se mantienen y limitan el acceso de la mujer a las actividades productivas fuera del hogar.…”

“…También se busca, por parte de los responsables políticos, minimizar algunos de los efectos negativos derivados de una estructura agraria patriarcal, caracterizada por la construcción de la identidad masculina a partir de una fuerte relación de poder sobre los medios de producción y el propio territorio (Little y Panelli, 2003;Brandth y Haugen, 2010;Little, 2015). En la actualidad se mantiene una importante barrera laboral de género en materia agrícola (Shortall et al, 2020). No obstante, otros autores defienden que esta barrera se ha suavizado con la promoción de la multifuncionalidad en la agricultura (Seuneke y Bock, 2015).…”