Gender Analysis of Women in the Philippine Agriculture and Their Occupational Issues

Abstract Feminist research shows how gender, in interaction with other socioeconomic differentiation theories on class and ethnicity, influences agrarian transition, health patterns, and economic development. In the highland community where this study was conducted, women play a very important role in the production of vegetables and crops. At the same time, there are hazards facing these women predisposing them to certain occupational health issues. As such, this research study aimed to look into occupational issues of women, as well as certain cultural, political, socio-economic perceptions and attributes that affect women's occupational issues. 251 women farmers from identified communities using cluster sampling were included in this study for the survey questionnaire. The data collection tools were structured personal interview, key informant interview, and secondary data gathering. 59% of the women said that farming was family-based. 28.3% had children under 18 years old involved in farming. The most commonly used pesticide was manzeb, a carbamate, for a duration of 20 years. 59.4% reported that sickness was perceived to be due to occupational exposure to pesticides during application in the field. In the FGDs cultural, political, and socio-economic factors that affect their occupational and health issues were looked into. This study aimed to target women in agriculture and their occupational issues to influence local and national policies concerning them. Keywords: gender analysis in agriculture, women farmers, feminization of agriculture, pesticide exposure, socio-political factors in gender differentiation, Philippino women Introduction The study was conducted in Benguet which is located in northern Philippines, and has the highest altitude for a landbased population. The area is considered as the "salad bowl of the Philippines" because of its high commercial production of vegetables. Farming in Benguet is family-based, and many women are engaged in farming (FPA, 2001). This study dealt with women farmers who have grown up in the area, and whose farms were previously owned by their parents or grandparents. Aside from socioeconomic and cultural factors in the agricultural sector that disadvantage women compared to men, there are also physical factors that predispose the former to greater health and safety risks. The reproductive function of women is affected by farming activities and by chemicals used. Differences in size and stature, as well as relative low oxygen uptake may also predispose women to certain injuries and illnesses (McCoy, et.al., 2002). Context of the study This study was conducted in the context of having much gender bias in occupational epidemiology in agriculture. Very few researches focus on women farmers in the Philippines. Besides, even in terms of occupational and environmental health exposures, the chronic disabling effects of agricultural work and pesticide exposure have been given less attention compared to acute immediate effects. Thus, leaving women's occupational and environmental issues left unaddressed. If occupational and environmental epidemiology is to have a meaningful impact on health of women farmers in developing countries, it must be gender sensitive. In the area of investigation, women actively participate in farming and agricultural work. In a study by Lu in 2007, women were equally involved in agriculture as their male counterparts. It is not only in Benguet, Philippines that we see the pattern of women's involvement in agriculture. In a study in Kampal City, Africa, women were reported to more likely grow food crops on contaminated land, which makes them more vulnerable to health risks associated with improper management of agriculture. In another study, women take on more work during the entire agricultural work compared to the men farmers (Nabulo, et.al., 2005). The feminization of agriculture Feminist research influences agrarian transition, health patterns, and economic development (Preibisch, 2002). …