The Christian Science Monitor reported on a new trend in Iowa where women are poised to ‘lead a farming revolution.’ Reports indicate that as wives inherit their husbands’ farmland, they emphasize conservation above maximizing yield and profits. Today in Iowa women own nearly half of the state’s farmland, but suffer from recurring problems when, “The men they hire to farm their land often don’t treat it with the tender care they expect – and often won’t listen when they complain about it.”

The Christian Science monitor provides a sociological perspective on the issue:

Jean Eells, a sociologist who focuses on environmental education, has studied how Iowa’s large share of older women who own farmland are faring in getting their land-conservation views heard.

“As a whole,” says Ms. Eells, “these women have a strong view of land as community – as a source of food and water for animals, birds, as well as people – rather than just producing a commodity. But while that conservation ethic makes them natural allies for agricultural conservation programs, women often feel their views are out of sync [with state or federal programs].”

Partly it’s because women don’t know or use standard terminology to talk about land conservation, Eells says. Partly it’s that agricultural system representatives tend to think and talk production – even when discussing conservation, she adds.

“If a woman brings up something about farming, and a man blusters authoritatively about it, women are socialized to just clam up,” Eells says. “So to the extent that a woman landowner starts discussing conservation, there are a lot of reasons why this might not go well.”

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