The Changing Role Of Farm Women In The United States

Farm women work and live in agriculture. They contribute in all areas of farm work, including financial responsibilities and risk management. Due to technological and sociological advances or changes, the role of farm women has changed considerably through the years. A farm woman may be the wife of a farmer or an independent farmer on her own.

The 20th century saw a huge shift in agricultural life, as more and more people in the US left rural areas to move to cities. Despite this decline, more women are managing farms, working as farmers on their own and acquiring farmland. A farm is a distinctive working environment because there is no separation between home and work. In most areas, most work is done outside the home, where on a farm, the

Meaning that, usually, a woman living on a farm works alongside her husband in addition to taking care of the family. Compared to most other women who generally cook only for their families, a farm woman sometimes cooks for her family AND for the farm workers. These women may grow and process food without additional pay so as to contribute to larger production for the workers.

In 1979, the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted a survey about farm women in response to complaints that these women were not receiving recognition or credit. According to the survey, almost 90 percent of the women had partial ownership of land.

The women surveyed reported that, on average they spent 2/3rd of their life working on the farm. Over 95 percent of the women claimed to be involved in regular housework and about 75 percent were their children's primary caregiver. The most engaged women were between the ages of 30 and 60.

The factor determining the type of work a woman participates in is her marital status. Occasionally, a wife may fill in for her husband. An older son may work with his father when he is older, limiting the woman's participation in managerial and often in physical labor activities. A woman's education also affects the type of work she is involved