Women in agriculture: Four myths

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date Issued

Date Online

Language

en

Review Status

Peer Review

Access Rights

Open Access Open Access

Usage Rights

CC-BY-4.0

Share

Citation

Doss, Cheryl; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth Suseela; Quisumbing, Agnes R.; and Theis, Sophie. 2018. Women in agriculture: Four myths. Global Food Security 16(March 2018): 69-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2017.10.001

Permanent link to cite or share this item

External link to download this item

Abstract/Description

Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG) on gender equality and women’s rights and at least 11 of the 17 SDGs require indicators related to gender dynamics. Despite the need for reliable indicators, stylized facts on women, agriculture, and the environment persist. This paper analyzes four gender myths: 1) 70% of the world’s poor are women; 2) Women produce 60 to 80% of the world’s food; 3) Women own 1% of the world’s land; and 4) Women are better stewards of the environment. After reviewing the conceptual and empirical literature, the paper presents the kernel of truth underlying each myth, questions its underlying assumptions and implications, and examines how it hinders us from developing effective food security policies.

Author ORCID identifiers