Gender Roles, Food & Health (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Grace Bower
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Gender Roles & Food Production
Women in food production
Women are more at risk of food insecurity as a result of gender disparities in the division of labour, decision making and resource access within agriculture
If men and women had equality in food production, productivity would be higher:
Supporting food security
Reducing poverty and growing the economy
Supporting the move to sustainable agriculture
With higher incomes from food production, women could spend more money on education and healthcare
This would boost development levels
Division of labour
The division of labour can impact food production
Typically in the developing world:
Men take the lead in large-scale commercial agriculture
They will undertake the physical tasks within agriculture:
Ploughing
Transporting food
Women tend to take a more subsistence role:
Weeding, planting or looking after animals
Marketing
Food preparation
This division of labour can impact productivity and economic growth
Women miss out on economic growth opportunities and making profit within this sector
Productivity within food production may not increase, as women undertake these smaller-scale activities
Education is vital for improving food production and reducing food insecurity and malnutrition
Men have higher education rates
Many girls still do not have equal access to schooling
Decision-making
Within the agricultural industry, men tend to make more of the decisions e.g. the types of crops, distribution and finances
Women typically don’t contribute to decision-making
Particularly in the developing world, this is a major cultural barrier
Female empowerment in decision-making is vital to improving income
Resource Access
Women have less access to large-scale agriculture, credit, funding and land tenure
Men typically have better access to agricultural resources
These resources support agricultural production
Women struggle to find or afford tools and technology
Lower incomes or lack of funding mean women cannot afford to buy high-quality seeds, pesticides, fertilisers or other vital resources to boost productivity
Land is often passed down to men generationally
Less land means lower yields
Women are less likely to put effort into land that isn’t theirs
Women struggle to access markets, reducing their incomes
In some countries, governments may limit women’s access to resources
Women also use their time for other activities like collecting freshwater or caring for family
This means women may struggle to be productive in the agricultural sector
Closing the gender gap
Many strategies are being put in place to combat these issues
Several projects work to support women in agriculture:
PepsiCo and CARE in Uganda
Providing education and technology to female farmers to help grow sustainable crops
‘Closing the Crop Gap’ is an awareness campaign, where women speak their experiences to the world
The World Bank
Women in agriculture are now at the forefront of their goals
Supporting women in accessing land and incomes
Feed the Future (US government’s food initiative)
Provided 2.4 million women with skills in agriculture
Helped 420,000 women access financial support
Gender Roles & Disparities in Health
Females and health
Women have longer life expectancies than men
Gender inequality impacts the health of females
They may have higher rates of age-related diseases like arthritis or depression
Women in developing countries may have more gynaecological issues. This is because::
The issues are a Taboo topic
There may be rules around male doctors/health carers touching women
During pregnancy, lack of healthcare access in developing countries may result in higher rates of deficiency-related diseases
This can impact the health of newborn babies
Women may be more likely to be in poverty, due to lower rates of stable employment
Poverty can impact health (poor quality food, lack of healthcare and limited health education)
Within the health industry, more women tend to work as carers or nurses (in health and social care)
In developing countries, education rates for women are lower
Results in more male doctors
This can result in discrimination towards women
Women have less autonomy over their bodies, for example, in sexual relationships
This can result in unwanted pregnancy or disease
Women may not be able to make decisions about their bodies and their healthcare options
They may not be able to access information about the support they need
Males and health
Men typically have lower life expectancies than women due to lifestyle choices
Men may eat more unhealthy foods or may be more likely to drink more alcohol and smoke
More likely to be involved in violent or dangerous activities
May have multiple sexual partners, increasing their risk of sexually transmitted diseases
Outdated concepts of masculinity
‘Manning up’ may push men away from finding healthcare
Gender diversity
Individuals not conforming to the gender binary may be more likely to experience higher rates of mental illness like depression and anxiety
Transgender individuals may have the same experience
Transgender people may also face higher rates of mistreatment in healthcare
They may also experience higher rates of violence
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