Women’s agricultural leadership and isolation: How has isolation related to COVID-19 and climate events impacted women farmers’ leadership practices in the BC organic sector?
Date
2025
Authors
Gamble, Jen
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Abstract
This project examines how women in the British Columbia organic agricultural sector demonstrate leadership during challenging climate events and pandemic situations and how social isolation influences their leadership practices. Through qualitative research, this project investigates the ways in which women in agriculture lead with their actions, their farming practices, and their focus on community especially in the context of a global pandemic or climate event. The project employed a qualitative approach to data collection through semi-structured interviews with seven participants, which facilitated an in-depth sharing of participants’ experience. Feminist principles and intersectional perspectives enabled the analysis to centre the voices and lived experiences of women within the organic agriculture community. The interview participants expressed a common belief that relationships were foundational to all aspects of their leadership. Participants felt that while the Covid-19 pandemic changed the way people worked together, it did not change the importance of relationships and community. Strong relationships were also identified as critical during climate events which often challenge community capacity. The critical role of relationships was threaded through the themes that emerged under each research question. Established, reliable relationships provided not only a sense of community but also a critical point of support in crisis situations.
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Keywords
organic agriculture, social isolation, women farmers, women in leadership, women in organic agriculture