Dr Aisling Murtagh, representing the Horizon Europe-funded FLIARA project at the University of Galway, participated in a timely and insightful panel discussion at the Sociological Association of Ireland’s (SAI) annual conference held at University College Cork on May 8th. The panel, titled “Changing the Gender (In)equality Landscape in Agriculture and Rural Areas in Ireland: Challenges, Innovations and Opportunities”, was led by Dr Muireann Prendergast, Postdoctoral Researcher with the GRASS CEILING project at SETU, Waterford.
The session brought together researchers from several key projects focused on gender dynamics in the Irish agricultural and rural sectors. Alongside Dr Murtagh, the panel featured Dr Martina Roche, Principal Investigator of the DAFM-funded HER-SELF project at Maynooth University, and Dr Mary Curtin from the University of Limerick, whose research includes a focus on gendered farm ownership.
The panel provided a platform to discuss the persistent challenges hindering gender balance within Ireland’s agricultural sector, rural economies, and communities. Discussions encompassed the innovative approaches being adopted by women in these spaces, emphasising the crucial role of sustainability, short supply chains, and the leveraging of local communities and resources.
Key challenges highlighted by the panellists included the deep-rooted factors contributing to the continued dominance of men in farm ownership and land transfer practices across Ireland. The significant implications of the existing lack of gender-disaggregated data on women’s diverse contributions to farm activities and the broader rural economy were also underscored. Furthermore, the panel addressed the difficulties women encounter when seeking access to essential loans and funding programmes.
The speakers critically examined the often inadequate and stereotypical portrayals of farm and rural women within both EU and national policy frameworks. They pointed out the tendency to categorise women as a vulnerable group, overlooking their multifaceted roles and contributions. Similar issues were identified in national media representations, where women’s involvement in agriculture and rural communities has historically been under-represented. The panel also shed light on the shortcomings of gender mainstreaming efforts at both European and national policy levels.
Despite the challenges discussed, the panellists concluded with a sense of optimism. They emphasised the importance of the research findings being generated by projects like FLIARA and the timeliness of the recommendations emerging during the current consultation period for upcoming national policy documents concerning agriculture and rural development. The insights shared during the panel are expected to contribute valuable perspectives as Ireland shapes its future policies in these vital sectors.
The Sociological Association of Ireland’s annual conference, while not themed this year, provided a crucial space for sociologists to engage with pressing contemporary issues, including those related to social inequalities and the evolving landscape of Irish society. The panel on gender (in)equality in agriculture and rural areas underscored the ongoing relevance and importance of sociological research in addressing these critical challenges.