Women in the Fields: A Brief Analysis of the Plight of Migrant Farmworker Women

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Migrant farmworker women labor in one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States. For a number of reasons they are significantly more vulnerable to social, economic, and civil rights abuses than their male counterparts. They are less likely to speak English, suffer sexual harassment and discrimination by employers, face particular reproductive health risks, and are trapped by cultural attitudes and practices which routinely deny or subordinate their rights, equality, and self-worth. Advocates can help create new protections, push for better enforcement of existing laws and regulations, and inform farmworkers about available assistance and legal remedies.

By Richard Kamm and Roger Rosenthal From March - April 1999