Women and Farming

Women's Perspectives on the Rural Crisis and Priorities for Rural Development

“…Rural economic stress is contributing to women's increasing employment in off-farm paid jobs (Morris, 1986;Ollenburger, Grana, & Moore, 1989). But women are also becoming more involved in such public activities as community organizing, legal action, financial negotiations with lenders, political lobbying, running for public office, and other new and challenging roles (Bescher-Donnelly & Smith, 1981;Bokemeier & Tait, 1980;Clinton & Lamer, 1988;Haney & Knowles, 1987;Hodne, 1989;North American Farm Alliance, 1988;Wiebe, 1987). Advocates of social change recognize that women have significant contributions to make in various forms of social action to maintain and rebuild rural communities.…”