Aboriginal Farm Women's Participation in Family and Farm Decision-Making

Abstract

Since 1970, farm women's participation in family and farm decision-making has been a popular research subject for rural sociologists. The research team of this study first visited four aboriginal tribes to gain experience and to conduct seminars with local farm women. Then, with the assistance of home economics extension workers, 194 aboriginal farm women from four tribes (Ami, Atayal, Paiwan, and Bunun) were interviewed about their participation in decision-making and problems encountered in making decisions. Factors affecting their participation in decision-making are also examined. The research has found that aboriginal farm women have very high participation in family decision-making. However, with regard to major economic or monetary items, husbands are the main decision- makers. In farm decision-making, women' participation is also high, but not as high as their participation in family decision-making. In addition, more and more women are becoming key farm operators. The main problems encountered in family and farm decision-making are lack of information, inadequate time, inadequate energy, insufficient ability, and difficulty in making up one's mind. Husbands and neighbors are the main consultants when encountering difficulties in making decision. The areas women strive to enhance in family decision-making are financial management, children's education, simplification of housework, health and nutrition. The areas they strive to enhance in farm decision-making are farm management, crop production technology, and market forecasting. Based on the research findings, three suggestions are recommended: 1) Future extension programs can include the following courses: financial management, children's education, health and nutrition, simplification of housework, interpersonal relationships, time management, stress management, emotional intelligence, crop production and farm management. 2) Opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills about housework operation should be provided for husbands. 3) The contributions of farm women deserve more recognition and appreciation, and their financial security should be considered.