Women in Ag: Growing Farms. Growing Food. Growing Potential

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