The Impact of Chilean Fruit Sector Development on Female Employment and Household Income

Modern fruit sector development in Chile
led to agricultural employment for women, though usually
only as temporary workers and often at a piece rate.
Nonetheless, fruit sector employment offered women access to
income and personal fulfillment previously lacking. The
authors link the fruit sector to improving female and family
economic welfare in rural Chile and changing gender
relations. Using a unique longitudinal data set, they
examine women's decisions regarding labor force
participation and employment, their earnings and
contributions to household income, and their attitudes
toward employment to understand how new opportunities are
changing women, their households, and the rural sector.