ųa Torkelsson
Doctoral Candidate, Sociology, Stockholm University
Stockholm, Sweden

Q: How can WOCAN best address obstacles faced by women in the professional world of agriculture and NRM?

A: The challenges for women in agriculture and NRM include working in a male-dominated field and potentially having to adapt to a male working culture. It is important that these environments allow for women to work productively and effectively and encourage new and different leadership styles and processes.

I think that WOCAN should encourage not the adaptation but also the reformation of the professional world of NRM. However, the process of reformation has to be frank, sober and also self-critical. The obstacles that I have faced have not been generated foremost from male colleagues and bosses.  In fact, my most negative professional experiences have been related to working with female colleagues. Male networks are valuable. Men help each other in their careers and push one another forward. This is not my experience from female networks. I think we women have...