The Importance of Women in Coffee
Reiko Piekarski, Director of Coffee Programs | Fortuna Enterprises, LLC
October 1st marks the annual celebration of International Coffee Day. The International Coffee Organization started this tradition to show appreciation for anything and everything related to coffee, and to bring awareness to certain functions of the industry. This year the ICO is drawing attention to investment efforts for future generations of coffee. Coffee plays an important role in the economy of many countries by providing livelihoods to millions of rural households. Organizations like The International Women's Coffee Alliance zeroes in on improving all aspects of the coffee industry by empowering and connecting women. Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and thus hold half of the potential. Female empowerment is essential to expand economic growth and promote social development on multiple fronts, especially in the coffee sector. So what does it mean to have a gender-inclusive coffee supply chain?
At Origin
More often than not, the images that populate our minds when we think of a “farmer” are of men rather than women. According to the Gender Equality in the Coffee Sector report published by the ICO, approximately 70% of the labor involved in coffee production is provided by women. The fact of the matter is that women play a significant role in coffee agriculture between general fieldwork, harvesting, and sorting. However, there is not nearly as much female presence in trading, exporting, or other certification or quality control aspects of the trade. When it comes to women in remote and rural communities, there are often various challenges that result in a continuation of poverty. Many of these women live in male-dominated societies which leave them with very little say in decision-making, let alone control of power and finances. Women representing demographics that reflect lower income and indigenous groups have less access to resources like education, finance, land, services, and technology than their male counterparts. When women are not in positions of power, they are not only paid less, but often face additional risk of reduced job stability, harassment, discrimination, and more.
Changing this dynamic in an effort to close the gender gap poses challenges, and may very well conflict with the cultural norms of these producing countries. The movements towards equitable change will not happen overnight. The relationships must be forged with respect in order to develop collaborative initiatives of sustainable and inclusive equity for the greater good of the local community. Connecting women at origin with resources and networks helps to empower and advance their livelihoods. As the former Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organization Jacques Diouf in 2011 stated, “Gender equality is not just a lofty ideal, it is also crucial for agricultural development and food security. We must promote gender equality and empower women in agriculture to win, sustainably, the fight against hunger and extreme poverty.”
Cafe de Mujeres - Mayan Harvest Women’s Group
In the September Fortuna Coffee Lineup, we introduced a Mexico Chiapas produced by the Mayan Harvest Women’s Group. This group of 168 family-owned farms is led by Rosalba Cifuentes Tovia, who was raised in the remote community she now leads. Tovia has dedicated herself to helping the women coffee producers earn higher rates for their coffee and reinvest in better agricultural practices. With the actions the women take and collaboration within the community, they are able to improve the livelihoods of their families. With their heart and effort, this season they were able to export their coffee which in turn has provided them financial empowerment. If you have not had a chance to try it yet, you can order the coffee by following this link → Mayan Harvest Women's Group- Mexico, Chiapas
Rosalba's initiative in Mexico joins many other similar women-led groups like Cafe Feminino. In 2004, this collective comprised of 464 women farmers in Peru shifted the gender dynamic by separating the coffee they produced from those produced by men. Rwanda hosts another example of women in the community banding together to plant seeds of hope on the very ground where many lives were lost over years of civil war. The women of both the Hingakawa Association and the Abakundakawa-Rushashi Cooperative represent both Hutu and Tutsi tribes, who were in the center of all the conflict. Together, they rebuilt the community and revived the coffee economy in the region.
Access to Services
October in the United States also marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Just as the access to health services is important here, the need is even greater in coffee-producing countries where most of the workforce do not have access to the care needed. Supporting women means ensuring there is access to services like healthcare, childcare, and education. Former Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan observed the importance of the roles of women in supporting the economy stating, “When women are fully involved, the benefits can be seen immediately; families are healthier, they are better fed; their income, savings , and reinvestments go up. And what is true of families is true of communities and, eventually, whole countries.”
Grounds for Health is a non-profit organization that primarily focuses on reducing cervical cancer throughout coffee-producing countries. The organization raises funds for community programs that increase awareness, screening, and treatment for women who serve in their local communities. Mama Hope nurtures the work of these community-led organizations by ensuring people have the freedom and the resources to change and better their lives. Moreover, they provide a platform for local voices not only within their own communities but on a global scale as well. Communication is necessary for advocacy and upholding ethical practices across the industry. In Standart Magazine Issue #7 Equality Grade Coffee: Gender at Origin Konrad Brits explained, “Gender has nothing to do with the physiology of our sex, but is formed and ingrained through cultural practices. Gender discrimination is the longest-running, furthest reaching humanitarian crisis of human existence. The cost, however, can be calculated and, simply put, is unaffordable.”
Closer to Home
One does not have to look to our distant coffee producing countries to observe the gender gap in the coffee industry though. On the home front, however, the spectrum of the division broadens to include not only women but also gender non-conforming individuals as well. Consider the number of men who fill the roles of roasting in the local community. It is not because women do not have an interest in these positions but instead because they are not being given the opportunity to participate. In recent years organizations like She's the Roaster encourage and promote self-identifying womxn in the coffee industry to pursue becoming professional coffee roasters.
Unfortunately, it is still an ongoing struggle for women and gender non-conforming individuals to find a career path in the male-heavy coffee industry. In a piece written by Ashley Rodriguez titled “Discrimination Behind the Bar”, which you can read in Issue 8 of Standart, she has collected stories from baristas, sharing their experiences of bias and discrimination in the workplace. It does not take long to realize the expanse of the gender divide across the board.
The competition world has changed a lot in the past 4 years alone. More underrepresented coffee professionals are able to participate in the restructuring of the competitions. The Specialty Coffee Association Code of Conduct clearly defines the expectations of members and their actions to create a more inclusive and safe environment for all participants. Unconscious bias training for competition judges was also introduced by Head Judge Lauren Lathrop a few years ago; to address prejudice or unsupported judgment which could potentially be in favor of or against someone or something they were presenting. Groups like Glitter Cat Barista Bootcamp created scholarship programs for underrepresented baristas who showed interest in competing but struggled with funding and support for these expensive endeavors. Overall, there is more awareness and support here closer to home but it will take more time and nurturing to develop the same advocacy for a lot of coffee producers.
Moving Forward
It is important to understand that sustainable changes come from local
leadership and support within communities near and far. With the collaborative and
inclusive engagement of men, women, and other underrepresented people in coffee,
the movement forward toward a more sustainable initiative can be achieved. Konrad Brits explained,
“Sustainability has a rational, logical, and linear path. The outcome of mindful
versus irresponsible behavior can both be plotted and graphed. Both,
ultimately, affecting the bottom line, and to talk to anyone about the bottom
line is to speak the universal language of profit in our economies and
societies. The case for business includes everyone.” Inequality should not be accepted in any workplace and especially in the
coffee industry. Together we must work towards increased representation,
agency, and pay for women until these standards are in line with those of men.
This starts with understanding the challenges women face at all levels of the
industry – as well as how they vary according to country, culture, race,
sexuality, disability, and more.
Additional resources for further reading:
Gender
Equality: Why It Matters
Perfect
Daily Grind: Women in the Coffee Industry
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