Gendered Patterns of Labor in Agriculture

• DOI: 10.1111/agec.70012
• Publication Date: 2025-03-13T01:54:12Z
• Authors: Cheryl Doss; Charles Gottlieb

ABSTRACTAs countries develop and experience structural transformation, the gendered patterns of labor change. We use harmonized labor force data and do not find evidence that women's share of the agricultural labor force is positively correlated with per capita income. Yet, the evidence shows many changes taking place that vary across locations. We identify five areas that require attention to understand these processes of change: the patterns of joint ownership and management among smallholder farmers, the responses to the migration of men off‐farm, shifts across sectoral boundaries, time spent on domestic services and care work, and the impact on empowerment. It is important to go beyond the number of people employed in production agriculture to understand the many ways that the gendered patterns of labor are changing.