| dc.description.abstract | Wisconsin dairy farm wives are dynamic, engaging, women who are
mothers, farmers, and leaders in the agriculture industry. The agriculture industry
has undergone drastic transformations in recent decades due to economic,
technological, and social influences. These influences have changed how farmers
run their businesses, the types of tasks farmers need to complete, and the role of
women on dairy farms.
This study examines the gendered experiences of dairy farm wives using a
Moustaka' s modified Steven-Colaizzi-Keen method of analysis. This
phenomenological study attempts to capture the essence of what it means to be a
dairy farm wife in Wisconsin. More specifically, the research project discussed
how women in partnership with their husbands communicated their gendered·
experiences, as well as, how agribusinesses and leadership organizations
communicated to dairy farm wives their gendered experiences. In depth
qualitative data was acquired by completing semi-structured interviews and farms
tours with fourteen dairy farm wives from across the State of Wisconsin.
This study expected to find that roles of women have changed over time,
when in fact, the study found that society has changed. Gendered roles and
responsibilities in Wisconsin dairy farm families have not changed dramatically
over the years. Instead, agribusinesses, leadership organizations, and society has
begun to recognize the importance of the work that farm women do on dairy
farms, their active role in decision making on farms, and are beginning to
incorporate the image of a woman with that of a farmer. | en_US |
