women in ag: growing farms. growing food. growing potential
TRANSCRIPT
WOMEN IN AG: GROWING FARMS. GROWING FOOD. GROWING POTENTIAL.
JEN CHRISTIE @savvyfarmgirl
A little about me…
Daughter of dairy farmers.
Proud 4-H Alumni & Volunteer.
SOURCE: AGCAREERS.COM GENDER ROLES & EQUALITY IN AGRIBUSINESS
DO YOU FEEL THERE IS GENDER INEQUALITY?
AGRIBUSINESS
BUSINESS OVERALL70%
47%
83%
78%Women Men
SOURCE: AGCAREERS.COM
GENDER ROLES & EQUALITY IN AGRIBUSINESS SURVEY
ENTRY-LEVEL MIDDLE MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE
Men Women
12% OF AG ASSOCIATIONS
HAVE FEMALE LEADERSHIP
Canadian Agricultural HR Council
25-30% OF PRIMARY FARM OPERATORS ARE
WOMEN
Stats Canada
54,000 JOB OPENINGS
Canadian Agricultural HR Council
+ ROS + ROIC + ROE
Catalyst, McKinsey, Credit Suisse
Photo Credit: Mel Curtis
WOMEN OUTNUMBER MEN IN 4-H & POST-SECONDARY LIFE SCIENCE PROGRAMS
SOURCE: CAHRC “SUPPORTING THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN AG”
TOP 5 BARRIERS FOR WOMEN ADVANCING IN AGRICULTURE
1. Balancing career and family responsibilities
2. Breaking into the “old boys club” (self-confidence?)
3. Few women role models at senior levels
4. Lack of mentoring opportunities
5. Double standards
AFTER ENTERING THE INDUSTRY, WHY ARE WE LOSING WOMEN?
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS
UNCONSCIOUSLY, WE TEND TO LIKE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE US, THINK LIKE US AND COME FROM BACKGROUNDS SIMILAR TO OURS.
Trang Chu, How Unconscious Bias Holds Us Back
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS
AG WOMEN’S NETWORK TRUE STORIES
WE ASKED WOMEN IF THEY HAD EXPERIENCED BIAS OR DISCRIMINATION IN AGRICULTURE. MANY STATED THEY ARE TREATED AS EQUALS & OTHERS SAID THEY HAVE NOTICED WOMEN TREATED WITH MORE RESPECT TODAY THAN IN THE PAST. SADLY, MANY ALSO HAD EXAMPLES TO SHARE. WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THIS IS A GREAT INDUSTRY FOR WOMEN TO WORK IN & SHARE THESE NOT TO COMPLAIN BUT TO RAISE AWARENESS THAT WOMEN DO STILL ENCOUNTER SEXISM ON THE JOB. IN SOME CASES, WOMEN NOTED QUITTING A JOB AS A RESULT.
▸ “As a woman, how do you think you’ll handle this job?”
▸ “What in the world would you know about agriculture?! You’re just a woman!!”
▸ “Companies only hire women agronomists so farmers will go easier on the company.”
▸ “If I buy this tractor, will you come wash it for me in your bikini?”
▸ “I knew this place would go to shit with a woman running it.”
▸ “Were your parents sad they didn’t have any sons to take over the farm?”
A VIBRANT AND RESPECTED AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY WHERE DIVERSITY IS CELEBRATED
VISION:
CONNECTING & CULTIVATING LEADERS FOR A STRONG AG INDUSTRY
MISSION:
Photo Credit: Mel Curtis
WHO IS THE AG WOMEN’S NETWORK?
Source: AWN Survey - October 2016
EMPOWER WOMEN THROUGH: ‣ EVENTS ‣ DISCUSSIONS ‣ PROFILES
Leveraging Digital Tools to Connect
Facebook - Closed Group - Public Page
Twitter @agwomensnetwork #AWNChat
Email - MailChimp
Blog & - Wordpress & Wix Website http://www.agwomensnetwork.com/ Team collaboration - Slack & Trello
“SHE NEEDED A HERO, SO THAT’S WHAT SHE BECAME.”unknown
Addressing the need for role models by profiling women in agriculture. Published weekly on our blog & monthly in Ontario Farmer.
Read Krista Hulshof profile online
● College educated ● Dairy farmer ● Wife ● Mother ● Caregiver ● Full-time off-farm
employment ● Volunteer
DEB KNAPTON
“I don’t have all the answers but I’ve got a supportive husband and I love what I do so that’s half the battle.”
Read Deb’s profile online
● University educated ● Sheep farmer ● Primary producer ● Wife ● Mother
ROMY SCHILL
“Maybe it’s because I’m stubborn and I don’t let the fact that I’m a woman hold me back. I know the job that needs to be done and if I don’t, I figure it out.”
Read Romy’s profile online
● University educated ● Dairy farmer ● Wife ● Mother of five, one
child with autism ● Autism advocate
BRIANNE BROWN
“I’ll never forget that day. After I left the appointment, I put my son in
his car seat and I sat in my vehicle and bawled.”
Read Brianne’s profile online
I have seen so many women become superwomen, amazing moms and never miss a beat in their career. But does being superwomen come at a cost? Is it fair for employers to expect the ‘superwoman’ as the new norm? Or are we setting unrealistic expectations when it comes work and family life?
Christina Fitzgibbons
AG WOMEN’S NETWORK PROFILE
THANK YOU!
www.agwomensnetwork.com@agwomensnetwork
IF YOU WANT TO GO FAST, GO ALONE. IF YOU WANT TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER.
African Proverb