Women's Roles in the Coffee Industry of Latin America
Women in Coffee 1
Women’s Roles in the Coffee Industry of Latin America
Jacqueline Kelleher
December 12th, 2013
Women in Coffee 2
Abstract:
This report examines the role of women in the coffee industry of Latin America by addressing the issues of unfair treatment of women and gender inequality in the workplace. This report studies the history of the coffee industry in Latin America and how it contributed to the development of women’s roles in the coffee industry. The roles of non-governmental organizations are taken into account for how they support women and implement programs which are meant to stimulate their roles in the coffee industry. Recommendations are made as to how coffee communities can practice gender equality, how consumers and foreign influencers can protect the rights of working women and increase the role of women in the coffee industry of Latin America.
Women in Coffee 3
Women’s Roles in the Coffee Industry of Latin America
The Study
Coffee is a $20 billion industry, the world’s second most sought commodity and one of
Latin America’s key exports that is stimulating economies and keeping jobs available (as cited in Goldschein, 2011). However, behind the scenes of the coffee industry, women are working alongside men as farmers but not treated as equals. Women working in the coffee industry are not granted the same social, economic and political rights as men.
They are often abandoned, abused, and treated unfairly. In addition, it is rare for a woman to participate in the business of selling coffee. Reports show that women participate in
70 percent of the fieldwork, harvest, and sorting processes (International Trade Forum).
Yet, on average, women participate in only 10 percent of the export and 10 percent of incountry trading (International Trade Forum). Changes within the hierarchy of the coffee business must be advocated so that women are provided equal opportunities. International and regional
Women’s Roles in the Coffee Industry of Latin America
Jacqueline Kelleher
December 12th, 2013
Women in Coffee 2
Abstract:
This report examines the role of women in the coffee industry of Latin America by addressing the issues of unfair treatment of women and gender inequality in the workplace. This report studies the history of the coffee industry in Latin America and how it contributed to the development of women’s roles in the coffee industry. The roles of non-governmental organizations are taken into account for how they support women and implement programs which are meant to stimulate their roles in the coffee industry. Recommendations are made as to how coffee communities can practice gender equality, how consumers and foreign influencers can protect the rights of working women and increase the role of women in the coffee industry of Latin America.
Women in Coffee 3
Women’s Roles in the Coffee Industry of Latin America
The Study
Coffee is a $20 billion industry, the world’s second most sought commodity and one of
Latin America’s key exports that is stimulating economies and keeping jobs available (as cited in Goldschein, 2011). However, behind the scenes of the coffee industry, women are working alongside men as farmers but not treated as equals. Women working in the coffee industry are not granted the same social, economic and political rights as men.
They are often abandoned, abused, and treated unfairly. In addition, it is rare for a woman to participate in the business of selling coffee. Reports show that women participate in
70 percent of the fieldwork, harvest, and sorting processes (International Trade Forum).
Yet, on average, women participate in only 10 percent of the export and 10 percent of incountry trading (International Trade Forum). Changes within the hierarchy of the coffee business must be advocated so that women are provided equal opportunities. International and regional
References: Cafe Feminino Foundation: Our Mission. (2013). Retrieved from http:// www.coffeecan.org/about-us/our-mission Coffee Statistics Report 2012 Edition. (2012) Retrieved from http://coffee- statistics.com/coffee_statistics_ebook.html Fowler-Salamini, H. Women coffee sorters confront the mill owners and the Veracruz revolutionary state, 1915-1918 International Trade Forum. Women in Coffee. (2008). International Trade Forum, 2008(34), Retrieved from http://www.tradeforum.org/Women-in-Coffee/? langtype=2057 2013 Annual Report. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.womenincoffee.org/ download_files/IWCA_2012-2013_AnnualReport_web.pdf Lanuza, M. Learning from the Coffee Crunch of Nicaragua. (2009, April.) Women in Action Topik, S., & Wells, A. (1998) The Second Conquest of Latin America: Coffee, Henequen, and Oil during the Export Boom