Gender inequality in the agricultural sector: The case of G20 countries

Year 2025, Volume: 30 Issue: 2, 334 - 346, 21.08.2025

Tugce Kaya

https://doi.org/10.37908/mkutbd.1625013

Abstract

The G20 countries comprise nations that account for a significant share of global economic and agricultural production. In this context, gender inequality in the agricultural sector, particularly the imbalance in the distribution of male and female labor, emerges as a critical issue. To develop effective policies aimed at reducing gender disparity, it is essential to accurately identify the parameters influencing this gap in the sector. This study examines the parameters contributing to the gender division in agricultural labor within G20 countries and analyzes the data using three distinct dynamic panel regression models for 1992-2022 period. In the first model, the agricultural trade deficit is included as an independent variable in addition to other variables that may affect the gender labor division. In the second model, agricultural import data replaces the trade deficit, while the third model incorporates agricultural export variables. The results obtained through the Arellano-Bover/Blundell-Bond dynamic panel regression model reveal that an increase in agricultural production exacerbates gender disparity. Additionally, higher rates of basic education negatively affect the ratio of female to male labor. This increase, occurring either through a rise in male labor or a decline in female labor, indicates a disadvantageous situation for women. Similarly, higher rates of employer status, self-employment, and fertility negatively impact women’s participation in the workforce. These findings demonstrate that policies aimed at reducing gender disparity in the agricultural sector of G20 countries should consider the effects of agricultural production, basic education rates, fertility rates, and self-employment ratios.

Keywords

Gender Inequality , G20 Countries , Agricultural Production , Panel Data Analysis

Tarım sektöründe toplumsal cinsiyet ayrımı: G20 ülkeleri örneği

Abstract

G20 ülkeleri, küresel ekonomik ve tarımsal üretimin önemli bir kısmını gerçekleştiren ülkelerden oluşmakta ve bu bağlamda tarım sektöründeki cinsiyet eşitsizliği, özellikle kadın ve erkek işgücü dağılımındaki dengesizlik, önemli bir konu olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Cinsiyet ayrımını azaltmaya yönelik etkili politikalar geliştirebilmek için bu sektördeki cinsiyet farkını etkileyen parametrelerin doğru şekilde belirlenmesi gereklidir. Bu çalışmada G20 ülkelerinde tarımsal işgücünde cinsiyete dayalı işbölümüne katkıda bulunan parametreler incelenmekte ve 1992-2022 dönemi için üç farklı dinamik panel regresyon modeli kullanılarak veriler analiz edilmektedir. Birinci modelde, kadın/erkek işgücü ayrımını etkileyebilecek değişkenlere ek olarak tarımsal ticaret açığı bağımsız değişken olarak dahil edilmiştir. İkinci modelde, tarımsal ticaret açığı yerine tarımsal ithalat verisi kullanılmış, üçüncü modelde ise tarımsal ihracat değişkeni eklenmiştir. Arellano-Bover/Blundell-Bond dinamik panel regresyon modeli ile elde edilen sonuçlara göre, tarımsal üretimdeki artışın cinsiyet ayrımını artırdığı gözlemlenmiştir. Ayrıca, temel eğitim alma oranının yükselmesi kadın işgücünün erkek işgücüne oranını negatif olarak etkilemektedir. Bu artış, erkek işgücünün artışı veya kadın işgücünün azalması yoluyla gerçekleştiğinden, kadınların aleyhine bir durumu işaret etmektedir. Benzer şekilde, işveren olma oranı, kendi işinde çalışma oranı ve doğurganlık oranlarının artması da kadınların işgücüne katılımını olumsuz etkilemektedir. Bu bulgular, G20 ülkelerinde tarım sektöründeki cinsiyet ayrımını azaltmaya yönelik politikaların şekillendirilmesinde tarımsal üretim, temel eğitim alanların oranın, doğurganlık oranları ve kendi işinde çalışma oranlarının etkili olduğunu göstermiştir.

Keywords

Cinsiyet Ayrımı , G20 Ülkeleri , Tarımsal Üretim , Panel Veri Analizi

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