Gender and the Preservation of Family Farming in Ireland

Abstract

SummaryFamily farming is the main model of European agriculture and is a means to promote rural development, agricultural sustainability and safeguarding of cultural heritage. Nevertheless, changes in modern societies and commodity markets lead to disruptions in the traditional family farming model and increasingly challenge its preservation. In this changing environment, many farmers strive to secure intergenerational farm transfer, but women are sometimes still disadvantaged in inheriting the family enterprise. In Ireland, farm succession patterns are dictated by patrilineal socio‐cultural values. This not only causes gender equality issues, but it also limits the poll of potential successors when willing candidates can be scarce. Men occupy the hegemonic position of the farmer and women are subordinated to the role of the farmer's wife. With these gender roles come societal expectations of what a traditional male farmer is. Problems arise from a disconnect between this traditional identity and the current reality of Irish farmers. Reliance on off‐farm income, social isolation and the high pace of societal change contribute to reduced well‐being of rural men. In this context, it is argued that evolution of patriarchal socio‐cultural norms underpinning family farming could lead to a redefinition of gender roles, thereby reducing the pressure on farm men and empowering farm women.