Abstract

This article addresses the patterns of women’s engagement in wheat as decision-makers and laborers in India. Qualitative research conducted twice in one village in Madhya Pradesh explored gender norms and agency changes over time. Quantitative research was carried out in the same village and 17 additional villages. Four questions are asked: (1) Is decision-making in wheat feminized? (2) Is labor in wheat feminized? (3) In what ways do interactions between caste and gender determine and limit the spaces within which women can act? (4) In what ways are women challenging their gender and caste identities to enhance their livelihoods by influencing their roles, responsibilities, and decision-making in wheat? The findings show that only a few women consider themselves “farmers” and participate actively in discussions around wheat. Over the last decade, women of all castes have been employed as laborers in wheat, driven by aspirations to improve their lives. Women also fund the wheat system through self-help groups. However, their participation in the labor force is threatened by agricultural mechanization. A strong, positive association was observed between women’s agency in crop production and their agency in household expenditures.

摘要

本文探讨了印度女性作为决策者和劳动者参与小麦生产的模式。在中央邦的一个村庄进行了两次定性研究，探讨了性别规范和机构随时间的变化。在同一个村庄和另外 17 个村庄进行了定量研究。提出四个问题：（1）小麦的决策是否女性化？(2) 小麦劳动是否女性化了？（3）种姓和性别之间的相互作用以什么方式决定和限制了女性的行动空间？(4) 女性以何种方式挑战她们的性别和种姓身份，通过影响她们在小麦中的角色、责任和决策来改善她们的生计？调查结果表明，只有少数女性认为自己是“农民”并积极参与有关小麦的讨论。在过去十年中，出于改善生活的愿望，所有种姓的妇女都被聘为小麦工人。妇女还通过自助团体资助小麦系统。然而，他们在劳动力中的参与受到农业机械化的威胁。观察到妇女在作物生产中的能动性与其在家庭支出中的能动性之间存在强烈的正相关关系。