Constructions of gender in contemporary Australian family farming: A rural financial counsellor perspective

Abstract

Family farming remains the most common form of agricultural enterprise across the world and in Australia, 90% of farms are owned and operated by farm families However, restructuring in the agricultural sector and climate change have resulted in considerable diversity amongst family operated farming businesses that now extends from smaller, marginal enterprises to larger, intergenerational, more entrepreneurial and commercially viable businesses. Australian family farms remain embedded within a pervasive agrarian mythology characterised by tight constructions of gender and family relations that often hide more complex realities. Attention to Australian agricultural policy suggests a commitment to gender mainstreaming is required to address the perpetuation of gender inequalities through institutional means. However, the ways those advising farmers construct gender remains under-researched. This article utilised the feminisation in agriculture thesis and a small story narrative approach to examine how 32 Rural Financial Counsellors from across Australia construct their gender and the gender of service users who experience considerable financial hardship. Most small stories were of integration, competition and progressive feminisation. Findings suggest that rural financial counsellor training could focus more attention on gender relations in contemporary farming families. Future studies could examine how those advising more successful farmers construct gender.