Espacios productivos y roles domésticos en granjas de leche en pequeña escala en México.

Abstract

ResumenLa participación de las mujeres en actividades agropecuarias en México ha sido invisibilizada puesto que son los hombres quienes toman las decisiones y ostentan el control sobre los medios productivos. Por el contrario, en el ámbito doméstico, la participación masculina no parece tener una contribución significativa ni visible, ya que son las mujeres las responsables de estos espacios. Este proceso de invisibilización de ambos géneros condujo este artículo hacia la exploración de los espacios y las relaciones de género que conforman la estructura social en el modelo (granja) producción de leche en pequeña escala en el Centro de México. Utilizando el método etnográfico fue posible definir al espacio físico como un componente básico de interacción y de relaciones entre lo femenino y lo masculino, y entre lo productivo y no productivo. Así, delimitaron dos espacios físicos de dominancia masculina: el terreno productivo y el establo, y de dos de dominancia femenina: la vivienda y el cuidado de la salud, y la milpa de traspatio. Se identificaron convergencias de ambos géneros en todos los espacios físicos y las actividades asignadas a través de esta estructura de género; aunque invisibles, soportan la reproducción social del modelo.Palabras clave: espacios rurales, ganadería, invisibilidad de géne-ro, roles domésticos. IntRoduccIónE n la mayor parte del estado de México, las actividades lecheras se desarrollan en esquemas de producción de pequeña escala, con AbstRActThe participation of women in agricultural and livestock activities in México has been made invisible because it is the men who make decisions and have control over the productive means. On the contrary, in the domestic sphere, the masculine participation does not seem to have a significant or visible contribution, since it is the women who are responsible for these spaces. This process of invisibilization of both genders led this article towards the exploration of the spaces and gender relations that make up the social structure in the small-scale dairy production model (farm) in central México. Using the ethnographic method, it was possible to define the physical space as a basic component for interaction and relationships between the feminine and the masculine, and between the productive and the non-productive. Thus, two physical spaces of masculine dominance were established: productive land and barn, and two of feminine dominance: household and health care, and the backyard milpa. Convergences of both genders were identified in all physical spaces and the activities assigned through this gender structure, although invisible, support the social reproduction of the model.

Milking to 2030: Economic and sustainability prospective of the Mexican dairy sector

“…Addressing water scarcity emerges as a critical factor for sustainable dairy farming, suggesting strategies like raising replacements and growing feed inputs in less arid regions . The impact of urban growth on rural areas and migration trends among younger generations underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that involve the small and medium-scale dairy sector in shaping the future (Bullock and Crane, 2021;Moreno-Ramos, 2021;Ruiz-Torres et al, 2017).…”

Strategies and socio-productive relationships in pig backyard production

“…Based on the informants' narrative, we can infer that this backyard pig production model has been developed and reproduced for at least 150 years, which implies that between six and eight generations have made a cultural investment in its social reproduction (Martínez-Castañeda and Perea-Peña, 2012). The fact that all members of the family, be it nuclear or extended, are involved in the tasks that the activity imposes, ensures its social reproduction (Ruiz-Torres et al, 2017). The producers reported that they sell both to intermediate consumers and to final consumers.…”

Role of small-scale dairy production systems in central Mexico in reducing rural poverty

“…Also, farmers rely on dairy farming as the main source of income (Juárez-Morales et al, 2017). In the area, four physical spaces with clearly defined gender roles interact: The stable and productive lands are associated with masculine roles, whereas the house and milpa (cultivated field) are associated with feminine roles (Ruiz-Torres et al, 2017). -Sánchez et al (2014) reported a total of 900 small-scale dairy production farms in the study area.…”

“…As mentioned, the backyard is one strategy for supplementing the basic food basket. Backyard may be characterized as an asset storage strategy or as a living pantry that provides vegetables, fruits, and animal protein such as meat and eggs (Ruiz-Torres et al, 2017). The animal diversity present in farms is related to families' perceptions of the utility of animals and the number of animals that families can feed.…”