Feminization wheat Madhya Pradesh Questions In what ways

Feminization – wheat - Madhya Pradesh Questions In what ways do the interactions between caste and gender influence, open and limit the spaces within which women can act? In what ways are women challenging their gender and caste-based identities? Are institutional actors recognizing, limiting, supporting ways in which women are ‘feminizing wheat’? What are the implications of the findings for the CGIAR and partners?

Methodology Quantitative (household surveys N = 420 x 2, key informant interviews, 60 FGI, 18 communities). Start hypothesis (research questions evolving as part of learning). Assumptions in model? Norms Caste Gender roles Tech. change Institut ional Actors Food Security Landholding Basic (difficult to change) Within the scope of research to influence Gen der Key outcome Qualitative (FGDs, KIIs, 1 gennovate community+). (Hypothesis being developed). RQ – challenge Data analysis - systemic analytic methodology confinement Caste

Fieldwork Findings Knowledge sharing Material sharing X SC (mostly) don't grow wheat Women's unpaid work in field = not work Unsayable: inter-caste equality Women 5: 1 hired labour Man = real farmer Women finance wheat

Discussion Questions Researching the unsayable. Disembedding the embedded - caste identity ‘naturalized’, moving beyond ‘facts’ (factual descriptions) hostility. Righting wrongs (caste x gender). Implications for institutional interventions.

Discussion Questions Perceptions. Making women’s work in the fields visible To researchers. The questions we ask, and who asks. To farmers. Women help the family. It is not labour. To other actors. Mechanization. Who takes responsibility for those who lose?