Quick Hit on Women's Role in Food Security

The intersection of gender and food security is an issue that seems to be generally overlooked. In our world, women make up the majority of people who produce our food, yet they typically don't own the land they work on. There is also evidence, that when food is scarce, women are the first family members to skip a meal.

In recent years, with the price of food has sky-rocketing, women around the world are disproportionately affected. But women should not be looked at a mere victims in this food crisis, but rather a means providing food security for families and communities. President Obama and legislators seem to be getting this point. Ritu Sharma, president and co-founder of Women Thrive Worldwide, wrote a great article on this topic. She says:

President Barack Obama has called upon Congress to double U.S. assistance for global agricultural development to more than $1 billion in 2010. The bipartisan Roadmap to End Global Hunger and Promote Food Security Act (H.R. 2817) co-sponsored by Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Jo Ann Emerson, R-Ste. Genevieve, introduced last month, outlines a comprehensive strategy for U.S. leadership on this issue. It also recognizes that assistance should reach women farmers, not just farmers or small farmers.

Read the full article here.