Abstract:
The objective of this research was to study the experience of pesticide illness
caused by using chemical pesticides for agricultural production among agricultural women.
A case study with in-depth interviews conducted among twelve agricultural women
who owned orchards, decorative plant and vegetable farms. All of them were laborers and
of reproductive age and had experienced pesticide illness or had had their illness diagnosed
by a health care center or hospital for in the 12 months prior to the study.
The findings reveal that their pesticide illness correlated with patriarchy and
capitalism. It is shown that men oppressed agricultural women working in agricultural
production whereas their illness was the impact of using pesticide demanded by capitalists.
Experiences of their illness were categorized into two groups. The first group was severe
while the other was mild to moderate. There were five symptoms found impacting on skin,
eyes, face, nerve system and blood circulation and respiratory system.
The results showed different impacts of each group significantly in term of
symptoms and suffering from illness, recovery period, complications of medical treatment
and impacts on daily living. Moreover, other illness such as aches and pain of bone and
joints, stress or fatigue, peptic ulcers, work related accidents, etc., were found when they did
other kinds of job as well.
The relationship between pesticide illness in agricultural women and the production
process caused by patriarchal capitalism has been shown to be evident in the results of
pesticide usage and the health risks women face. As the owners of orchard or farm they are
unable to avoid using pesticides and as a labor force, they are oppressed by men who can
easily control the use of technological equipment. Not only do women face job segregation
but employment promotion and marketing process are related factors in that agricultural
women are oppressed by capitalist as well.
These Recommendations are made in an attempt to decrease the oppression of
women by men and capitalists. Womens education should be enhanced, equal sharing of
responsibility by men and women in production process should be encouraged and
womens occupations should be supported in term of product marketing for accessibility to
share relevant resources and benefits.