On this March 8th, I would like to remember the struggle of the Women of Unió de Pagesos to ensure that, in the rural and agricultural world, equal opportunities become a tangible reality, without gender distinction. We must continue working for equal access to all resources and services, to guarantee that our agricultural sector is accessible to all and to ensure that women are seen not as complementary figures, but as leaders at the same level as our colleagues.
Women have always been a fundamental part of the peasantry, but our work has often been rendered invisible. In Catalonia, we represent 30% of the workforce in the agricultural sector. However, our representation in leadership and decision-making is still very limited, agricultural policies are still mainly designed from a male perspective, services and aid often do not take into account the specific reality of women, and the double shift – at home and in the fields – is a daily fact for many.
To achieve real equality, decisive action by the administrations is necessary. They must work to increase policies to support the reconciliation of work and family life in rural areas, since the lack of local services (such as schools or health services) directly affects women who live there. This could also involve designing direct aid and accessible lines of financing that take into account the particular realities of women in the primary sector and in rural areas.
Another essential aspect is to promote personalized advice on business management for female farmers, as well as guaranteeing them access to training, especially on new technologies, so that they have the same opportunities to adapt to the challenges of the future.
And in this fight for equality, it is essential to involve men more actively; to work together so that we can practice our profession on equal terms. In this regard, and with a view to guaranteeing an inclusive and equitable agricultural sector, we propose that more awareness-raising programmes on gender equality in the agricultural sector be promoted.
These measures that we propose must be associated with a change in the perception of rural women. We refuse to perpetuate the stereotype of "sacrifice". We want to be valued as people who work in the primary sector with passion, with leadership skills, with a vision for the future, like our male colleagues. Our objective is, therefore, to make equality of opportunity a tangible reality, without distinction of gender. Our demands do not seek privileges, but rather equality of opportunity.
