Today, March 08, "International Women's Day" is commemorated, a date established by the United Nations (UN) in 1975, and whose origins many historians agree to record in the mid-nineteenth century, in full industrial Revolution. On March 8, 1857, thousands of textile workers decided to take to the streets of New York with the slogan "Bread and Roses" to protest for improvements in working conditions and demand a cut in working hours and the end of child labor. Then there were various demonstrations such as the 1909 "shirtwaist strike". But a chapter that would mark this international commemoration occurred on March 25, 1911, when 123 women died in a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist shirt factory in New York. (and 23 men), since the owners had locked up the workers to prevent them from joining the strike.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in its latest report "New Map of Power and Gender in Chile" (1995-2018), shows the evolution of the participation of women in positions of power in the last quarter century. Thus, in the economic sector there is an increase of 3% to 8% of women on boards of directors in large companies, and from 4% to 10% in management. In the latter case, women reach only 3% in general management and 7% in finance, while in others they manage to exceed 50% as in the area of ​​communication and corporate social responsibility (58%).

In the political sphere, women manage to exceed 30%; in the central Executive Power (33%) and autonomous public institutions (35%), as well as in the judiciary (33%) and the highest positions in political parties (32%). The greatest lags are observed in security and defense positions with 1% of women (adding the armed forces, police, aviation and naval forces), as well as in the legislative branch (23%), even with the increase resulting from the application of the quota law.

In symbolic power, women have had ups and downs. They have increased their presence in strategic communication companies to 41% of the positions, but in the media they have decreased from 24% in 2009 to 19% in 2018. In the area of ​​education, women increase their position in the positions of power, but in central positions such as the rectories of universities accredited for more than five years, women are not seen on the measurement date.

In social power, women reach up to 42% in the leadership of student organizations and 20% in workers' organizations and 28% in professional organizations.

In total, within the four areas reviewed, only 8 of the 36 sectors exceed 33% of women and only 2 exceed 50%. In other words, the vast majority of positions of power continue in the hands of men. The report proposes that each organization and sector review not only the institutional measures that promote the incorporation of women into positions of power, but also a review of informal practices that strengthen men in positions of power. Institutional measures, reflexivity and concrete actions within each institution, cultural change and political will are central factors to achieve greater equity.

Women in Agro

According to data from the United Nations (UN), women represent an average of 43% of the agricultural labor force in developing countries, while in Chile that figure reaches only 20%, according to the Office of Studies and Agrarian Policies (ODEPA).

Historically, agriculture has been considered a sector where physical strength and facing extreme conditions are associated with masculine capacities. However, despite this, women have been able to significantly increase their participation in this sector, tracing a path admirably, with the first steps in seasonal jobs, and then move to leadership positions, which have seen a increase in agricultural holdings as measured by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).

María Emilia Undurraga, Minister of Agriculture

One of these examples is the Minister of Agriculture, María Emilia Undurraga, who is the second woman in the history of this ministry to lead it. The minister, in an interview with SimFRUIT, revealed the commitment that binds her to this portfolio. “Being the Minister of Agriculture has been a tremendous gift for me. I am very fond of this institution because my beginnings at Minagri date back to 2010, when I started working at Indap to support peasant family farming. Also, I was the first director of the Office of Agrarian Studies and Policies (PASO) elected by Senior Public Management, a position where I was able to work for the development of the rural world. Precisely that will be the main engine of my management and it is what I am most passionate about: relieving the role of rural territories, agricultural and forestry activities, as well as food production for all Chileans, in order to build a more country. fair, sustainable and inclusive ”.

She added: “I am happy to be able to make visible the role of women in high public positions and that is how we have also discussed it with the other female ministers and authorities who are increasing in number. The good news is that now, compared to a few years ago, there are many more women in the leadership of agriculture, but we still have a long way to go. And not only in that aspect, we also have to promote the labor participation of rural women. Today it is close to 20% is linked to the sector and when I have had to visit rural families, you realize the relevance of women in the field. Hardworking women, workers, entrepreneurs who manage their crops and have a great initiative, so we can see that in Indap almost 50% of its users are women, who raise their family and contribute every day to Peasant Family Agriculture ”.

Regarding the personal stamp that she wishes to leave in this portfolio, María Emilia Undurraga indicated: “It is a year of consolidation, of leaving some private stamps and we have all the desire to do so. We have a project that represents this main challenge very well: Santiago is not Chile. I want to be a contribution to make visible the existing gaps in the rural world to continue promoting actions that highlight the agricultural, livestock and forestry sectors. In Chile we have 263 of the 345 communes that are rural, where agriculture is an engine of development, but we still have a long way to go to improve connectivity, access to water, education, health, the role of rural women and the relationship with native populance".

“This is a team effort and the National Rural Development Policy that was promulgated in 2020 goes in this direction and integrates 14 ministries so that together we can work on these challenges to improve the quality of life of all these people. In the end, the challenge is to reduce poverty, great territorial inequality, and equalize opportunities ”, he added.

Finally, the Minister sent a message to the women of Chilean agriculture. “I want to acknowledge the work of each of you and also tell you that you are a fundamental part of Chilean agriculture. From the ministry we will continue working to reduce the existing differences because we want to integrate women into agricultural and forestry production to an integral role in society that goes far beyond production. I think that taking into account the feminine gaze, as we have been doing as a country in recent years, allows us to enrich the perspective of work everywhere. When it is my turn to travel the country, one comes across the stories of very powerful women who motivate us to continue working for an increasingly balanced and just society ”, he closed.

Participation of women in Chilean fruit growing

We spoke with two Chilean professionals, who from their jobs contribute to the growth of the Chilean fruit sector, and who highlighted the advancement of women within this industry.

Paulina Escudero, Agricultural Engineer ASOEX

“The participation of women in the fruit sector has advanced a lot. In fact, before the work of women was mainly concentrated in the quality control programs of exporting companies, nowadays their participation in different areas of the fruit industry is much broader, in the technical, university, in the field, in the regulatory field, in research, among others. I believe that part of this progress is due to the work carried out by the women of my generation, who dared and made the way for new generations, ”said Paulina Escudero, a commercial and professional engineer at ASOEX, who was also distinguished with the Guacolda Award .

It also revealed the need to keep moving forward. “There will always be a lack of progress, since the incorporation of women into the labor field is quite recent, and more so in agriculture. In fact, in my mother's generation it was rare for women to study at university and less in careers that were normally associated with men, even in my generation more than once I heard people say that women went to find a husband at the same time. University, and you still hear people say that women did a very bad business when they left their homes to join work, due to the different responsibilities that we normally have to assume ”, she commented.

Along the same lines, Elizabeth Köhler, agronomist, Technical Manager of the Kiwi Committee and a distinguished woman with the Guacolda Award, pointed out: “The participation of women in this sector, although it has been increasing in recent times, still continues. being a space with low participation, where historically the male role continues to be more important. As an industry woman in a managerial position, I would like to call for better equal employment opportunities. Opportunities for our professional development and to make our gender visible as an equal in terms of capacities and development. I would like to be able to observe more women at a meeting table ”.

Regarding the contributions that both professionals believe that women can make to the sector, Köhler highlighted: “I faithfully believe that there is no difference in gender or in terms of professional or labor quality, we are all important. However, women have qualities that characterize us, we are applied, meticulous, we commit ourselves in the long term, cautious with risks and above all with a great capacity to empathize and work as a team. Characteristics that in teams formed, equitably, represent a great contribution to the fulfillment of the objectives ”.

For her part, Paulina Escudero indicated: "Women face our work in a comprehensive way, with greater soft skills and more methodical when carrying out our work, many times we propose different solutions to problems."

It should be noted that both agronomists sent an affectionate greeting to the women of the industry on this International Women's Day. "My congratulations, admiration and a big greeting to all the women of Chile and especially to those in the fruit sector, starting with those who start harvesting those who end up marketing the fruit, and who with their work contribute to make this industry what today it is, and that they also strive every day for the well-being of their families, ”said Elizabeth Köhler.

"I would like to tell everyone that women can do whatever they want, that they do not abandon their dreams, that perseverance manages to break down barriers," said Paulina Escudero.

Elizabeth Köhler, Technical Manager Kiwi Committee

It should be noted that in recognition of the work done by women in the various fields of fruit production, ASOEX, awards the “Guacolda Award” every year. These are women who are nominated by the institutions of the sector in which they work, in areas such as: field worker or packing center, trade associations, universities or research centers, public services, service provider companies or supplies, among others .

Finally, as SimFRUIT, we join in the greetings to all the women who, from different areas of the national task, allow the development and growth of Chile.

Happy day to all the women of the world, of Chile and of course of the agriculture and fruit growing of Chile ”