Gendered agricultural space and safety: towards embodied, situated knowledge

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Sociology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• The gender division of labor in agriculture is evolving due to changing economic and technological landscapes.
• Women's increasing roles in both off-farm employment and agricultural work have led to less attention on their specific occupational risks.
• The spatial separation of on-farm, off-farm, and domestic duties contributes to the invisibility of women's work-related hazards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the gendered understanding of occupational health and safety (OHS) within Western agricultural contexts.
• To investigate how women's embodied positions on the farm influence their exposure to risks and injury prevention knowledge.
• To refine OHS understanding in agriculture by integrating gender theory and qualitative methodologies.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature analysis was conducted on gender and OHS in Western agriculture.
• The study employed a gender theoretical framework to analyze findings.
• Qualitative methods were highlighted as crucial for deeper insights.

Main Results:

• Women's occupational health and safety risks in agriculture are often overlooked and rendered invisible.
• The spatial division of labor and differing contexts significantly impact women's risk exposure and awareness.
• Existing OHS frameworks may not adequately capture the complexities of women's experiences in agriculture.

Conclusions:

• Further gender research is essential to understand the nuanced OHS challenges faced by women in agriculture.
• Incorporating qualitative methods is vital for a more comprehensive understanding of gendered relations, embodied experiences, and situated knowledge in agricultural settings.
• Refined OHS approaches are needed to address the specific needs and risks of women farmers.