Considerable progress has been made in the field of agricultural research for development (R4D) towards recognizing gender inequalities in food systems and the implications for agricultural stagnation, food insecurity, poor nutrition, and poverty. In highlighting the patterns and consequences of persistent gender gaps across agricultural, natural resource, and other related sectors in food systems, many initiatives have been directed towards increasing women’s participation to close gender gaps related to yields, resource management, and nutritional outcomes. However, research aimed at eradicating these gender inequalities by addressing their root causes has received comparatively less attention. This is unacceptable considering the identification and transformation of harmful gender norms and practices is critical for building and maintaining sustainable food systems that support women, men, and gender diverse people to become equal partners in agriculture and related sectors. Thus, research that examines processes of marginalization, identifies the root causes of gender injustices, i.e., power relations, and generates innovative approaches, tools, and methodologies for gender research are needed to achieve sustainable food systems. This Research Topic focuses on cutting-edge gender research that demonstrates theoretical grounding and empirical applicability towards this end.
The Research Topic aims to highlight current innovations in gender theory, methods, and practices that contribute towards eradicating the root causes of gender inequalities and social injustices in food systems. At present, there is a need to gain deeper insights and understanding of gender injustices in food systems beyond narrow and simplistic narratives on women’s participation. Critically, women, men, and gender diverse people – whether marginalized, at risk, or in leadership positions – are heterogeneous groups with vastly different realities, opportunities, and challenges in food systems. Understanding these varied dynamics via innovative gender research and uncovering the norms that mediate people’s engagement in food systems is necessary to provide an informed starting point for development initiatives to tackle the root causes of gender and intersecting social inequalities (e.g., based on age, ethnicity, race, class, caste, disability, socio-economic status) and offer interventions that promote gender and social justice.
For this Research Topic, we encourage the submission of original empirical research, review, and synthesis papers based on cutting-edge gender research that demonstrates application towards eradicating gender inequalities and intersecting social injustices in food systems. Submissions that engage with intersectional analysis, address the role of men/m in dismantling harmful gender norms, and women and gender-diverse people as leaders/agents of change in food systems would be especially welcomed. Within this broad focus on sustainable food systems, innovative gender research in the fields of agriculture, climate change, climate change adaptation and mitigation, food loss and waste, entrepreneurship, inclusive financing for gender equitable food systems, natural resource management, water and sanitation, biodiversity conservation, livestock management, and forestry are welcomed. We further welcome contributions which link current gender research to approaches such as agroecology, food sovereignty, social movements, i.e., Via Campesina, indigenous and land rights, feminist political ecology, technology encounters, feminization of agriculture, power theories, decoloniality, and development studies more broadly.
Considerable progress has been made in the field of agricultural research for development (R4D) towards recognizing gender inequalities in food systems and the implications for agricultural stagnation, food insecurity, poor nutrition, and poverty. In highlighting the patterns and consequences of persistent gender gaps across agricultural, natural resource, and other related sectors in food systems, many initiatives have been directed towards increasing women’s participation to close gender gaps related to yields, resource management, and nutritional outcomes. However, research aimed at eradicating these gender inequalities by addressing their root causes has received comparatively less attention. This is unacceptable considering the identification and transformation of harmful gender norms and practices is critical for building and maintaining sustainable food systems that support women, men, and gender diverse people to become equal partners in agriculture and related sectors. Thus, research that examines processes of marginalization, identifies the root causes of gender injustices, i.e., power relations, and generates innovative approaches, tools, and methodologies for gender research are needed to achieve sustainable food systems. This Research Topic focuses on cutting-edge gender research that demonstrates theoretical grounding and empirical applicability towards this end.
The Research Topic aims to highlight current innovations in gender theory, methods, and practices that contribute towards eradicating the root causes of gender inequalities and social injustices in food systems. At present, there is a need to gain deeper insights and understanding of gender injustices in food systems beyond narrow and simplistic narratives on women’s participation. Critically, women, men, and gender diverse people – whether marginalized, at risk, or in leadership positions – are heterogeneous groups with vastly different realities, opportunities, and challenges in food systems. Understanding these varied dynamics via innovative gender research and uncovering the norms that mediate people’s engagement in food systems is necessary to provide an informed starting point for development initiatives to tackle the root causes of gender and intersecting social inequalities (e.g., based on age, ethnicity, race, class, caste, disability, socio-economic status) and offer interventions that promote gender and social justice.
For this Research Topic, we encourage the submission of original empirical research, review, and synthesis papers based on cutting-edge gender research that demonstrates application towards eradicating gender inequalities and intersecting social injustices in food systems. Submissions that engage with intersectional analysis, address the role of men/m in dismantling harmful gender norms, and women and gender-diverse people as leaders/agents of change in food systems would be especially welcomed. Within this broad focus on sustainable food systems, innovative gender research in the fields of agriculture, climate change, climate change adaptation and mitigation, food loss and waste, entrepreneurship, inclusive financing for gender equitable food systems, natural resource management, water and sanitation, biodiversity conservation, livestock management, and forestry are welcomed. We further welcome contributions which link current gender research to approaches such as agroecology, food sovereignty, social movements, i.e., Via Campesina, indigenous and land rights, feminist political ecology, technology encounters, feminization of agriculture, power theories, decoloniality, and development studies more broadly.