Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Networks for women is a recurring initiative in multiple industries, a space where they can share knowledge, questions and experiences in a safe environment. Women farmers work in an agricultural industry in Sweden that is male dominated, both from a cultural and a numerical standpoint. The male farmer is an identity that has traditionally been allowed to shape and define the industry. In Sweden there has been a decline in both the number of farms and the number of farmers, which has resulted in fewer local peers to share experiences and insights with. Research also shows that there is an emerging issue of depression and thoughts of suicide among farmers.

In this qualitative study, semi-structered interviews were conducted with six women farmers that live and work in Sweden. They were all members of women-only networks for farmers, either online or physical. The aim was to investigate how networking with other women benefits women farmers, and how it supports them as well as what kinds of networks exist and what themes are highlighted. The theoretical framework used to discuss the findings were resilience theory in combination with gender, women and networking, and users and gratification.

Six main networks were identified, two physical and four online. Most of these are emergent networks, created by individuals responding to specific needs such as legal advice, succession planning, or opportunities for collaboration. The one prescribed network, initiated by the European Union, has evolved into a more collaborative and self-driven community. The networks that this thesis studies are mainly a combination of social, professional and informal. For some, women-only networks are a strategic response to structural inequality. For others, they are more about personal connection and shared life rhythms. But in all cases, they reflect a gendered negotiation of space, power, and survival, highlighting how networking platforms can be tools of both resilience and resistance. Networking can serve as a valuable alternative to traditional face-to-face counselling, helping to make mental health services more accessible to those in rural farming communities. This study also shows that networks have played a vital role for women farmers who are currently in, or have previously experienced, abusive relationships. While the women in this study acknowledge that the networks are valuable and necessary in many respects, they also point out areas for improvement, particularly the need for more personal interactions.