Female farmer, female farmer, working family member, rural woman – the positions of women on farms in Germany are just as varied as the names. However, little was known about their life plans, wishes and worries.
A research project on the living conditions of women on farms has provided important insights. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and supported by the Deutscher LandFrauenverband e.V. (dlv), scientists from the Braunschweig Thünen Institute for Business Administration and the Chair for Sociology of Rural Areas at the University of Göttingen have been collecting data and interviewing rural women for three years. The final conference took place in Berlin on September 22, 2022.
The first all-German study on the living and working situation of women in agriculture since reunification shows how important the work of women on farms is and what different roles they play there. The study also makes it clear that gender equality on farms has not yet been achieved.
Statistics show that only 11% of businesses are run by women; in the intended succession to the farm, the proportion of women is around 18%. This puts Germany in one of the last places in a European comparison. The surveys carried out as part of the project showed that there are considerable access barriers for women in agriculture; Outdated gender images and traditional inheritance practices still represent structural obstacles for women. Women’s social security for old age or in the event of divorce, separation or the death of management is uncertain. There are also weaknesses in health care.
However, there is also cause for cautious hope. For example, there is a slight tendency towards more female court successors. The proportion of women who set up their own farms is also increasing.
Janna Luisa Pieper from the Chair of Sociology of Rural Areas at the University of Göttingen says: “In order for more women to take over and manage farms, a fundamental change in agricultural traditions is necessary, coupled with more educational work at agricultural educational institutions. It is important to note that this educational work should not only be aimed at women; Gender-equitable agriculture concerns everyone.” And Zazie von Davier from the Thünen Institute for Business Administration adds: “Women often see themselves as (co-)entrepreneurs, even if they are not legally involved in the business. They should demand equal and independent old-age provision for their diverse services and responsibilities on the farms.”
