Opinion: Farming shouldn’t be about machismo and muscles

To many, insomnia is a dreadful affliction. However, I try and convince myself that it presents a good opportunity to catch up on some late-night reading.

While enjoying a New York Times article about the Alan Ayckbourn-esque farce that is playing out across the States with lead characters Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, I was drawn to a blog written by an Illinois farmer’s wife.

See also: Opinion: Data is fine, but you have to ‘feel’ the job

She was penning her frustrations about the gender divide that exists in US agriculture.

She talked of male chauvinism and other barriers preventing women from either having access to jobs or not progressing as they deserve within agriculture.

See also: My first summer as a female farmworker

The subject has also been widely discussed in this publication in recent weeks.

Ian Pigott farms 700ha in Hertfordshire. Ian is also the founder of Open Farm Sunday

NFU deputy president Minette Batters among others has been vocal and extremely supportive about the roles and opportunities that exist for women within farming.

And that agriculture should sell a gender equality message to employers up and down the agri-supply chain.

However, I believe that the message could be much more compelling.

Not that long ago, farming was seen as a workplace for those of “oxen-like” composition.

You only need go back 30 years to find an All Black rugby XV that was ostensibly a team of farmers.

Bulging forearms and hairy chests

In New Zealand farming was synonymous with bulging forearms, hairy chests and success.

One mustn’t underplay how powerful stereotype associations can be.

Farming to this day benefits from some of these: hard working; honest; traditional; experienced and healthy are all words identified with farming.

However “strong” and “male” are also words very high up that list.

And stereotypes such as these can be interpreted as a barrier to entry for women.

In the past two decades, the skills required within farming and agri-food have been turned on their head by market forces and the adaptation of technology.

Vital skills

If I was stopped on the street and asked what were the two most important skills I required as a farmer in 2016, I would suggest an ability to multitask, and an acute attention to detail.

Many would say that these traits that are more commonly found in women rather than men.

But, I would go further and suggest that in today’s farming there are more roles better suited to women than there are for men.

The skills required to operate farm machines and livestock systems used to be more brawn than brain.

However, they now require a deft of touch and a greater focus on detail. Regrettably, I believe women are not being given as much opportunity as they should.

A sexist attitude still exists in large parts of the farming industry.

Men are favoured over women for no other reason than historic behaviour.

My stance will not sit comfortably with many Farmers Weekly readers.

However, the more I have considered this argument’s foundation the more convinced I am that there are no jobs in farming that should be decided by gender.

While the agri-food supply chain has done an excellent job in extolling the opportunities for both men and women, many farm based jobs still suffer from a male bias.

Careers expo

On 10 November Farmers Weekly hosted Ag Careers Live in Coventry – a careers expo aimed at helping young people map their careers within the farming and agri-food sector.

I believe this sector should set a target of being able to promote itself as a UK industry leading on gender equality by 2025.

As to whether I would employ Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump? I don’t think this is a consideration of man or woman.

Neither would be an asset to British farming.