The role of women in small-scale livestock farming: South African case studies.

Abstract

The importance of gender equality has gained traction in academic and political spheres over the past decade. Agriculture is among the various sectors that have experienced an increase in the empowerment of women's participation. Specifically, livestock farming has seen a significant increase in the involvement of women. This study investigates the relationship between gender and livestock farming in South Africa in the past ten years. The study aims to highlight the different gender inequalities that exist in livestock farming despite the increased participation of women. Gender inequality is still rife in areas such as ownership of land and livestock. Notwithstanding, the study highlights the benefits of women owning livestock, such as a source of income and a means to renegotiate their societal position. The study collected data by interviewing different research respondents. The data was later coded, and themes were identified and presented. The findings show that owning livestock is key to expanding and obtaining new market opportunities. Furthermore, the support of government programmes has helped decrease the gender gap. However, education and traditions are still on the list of things that hinder women’s progress in livestock farming.