Date of Graduation

5-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology

Advisor/Mentor

Rucker, K. Jill

Committee Member/Reader

Cox, Casandra

Committee Member/Second Reader

Miller, Jefferson

Abstract

A large body of literature suggests there are many barriers to women in the workplace due to gender bias and long history of men in higher leadership roles. Perhaps one of the more complex industries for women to navigate is the agricultural industry. Through observation and personal experience, I have been exposed to the inequalities and biases against women in the agricultural industry. While times are changing and more women are rising to leadership roles, there are still heavy barriers for them to overcome and personal sacrifices to consider. For example, the Pew Research Center concluded in a study that 39% of the public believes it is better for a woman who wants to reach a high level of leadership in a business to not have children. This is an unfortunate reality for many women to face, especially considering it is a personal choice and has no effect on the ability to effectively lead a business or team. A survey was developed a to help lay groundwork for sharing the reality of women in the agricultural industry. The study was designed to help identify the success factors and barriers women face in advancing in their careers within the agricultural industry. The results of the study cannot be generalized, and conclusions are only applicable to survey respondents. The findings suggested the glass cliff was real, second-generation bias was a contributing factor to a woman’s workplace success and women were often forced to advance in an entirely different manner than men.

Keywords

women in agriculture; barriers for women in the agricultural industry; gender bias for women in the workplace; women advancing in their careers

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