"Participants in the study said they generally felt that there was equal treatment in physical work standards for female and male workers. Men and women received similar tasks and were subject to the same productivity quotas, even if the women were pregnant.
It also found that women frequently reported inappropriate behavior from male workers. Some participants expressed that they felt objectified and harassed during work. Women who were married or partnered mostly reported that they did not experience sexual harassment and felt more protected because they worked with family members, such as a husband, or with other families.
Participants also described a 'culture of silence,' according to the study, because victims of assaults were blamed for being too friendly with male workers or supervisors. The women who were victims of such assaults said they did not want to report the crime because of a fear of retaliation or because they felt vulnerable due to their immigration status.
Another concern of the farm workers interviewed was that women had inadequate access to bathrooms, which were sometimes miles away from farm workers taking breaks. Participants cited needing to delay urination for hours and facing consequences such as frequent urinary tract infections and other health issues related to the bladder.
Participants also mentioned that there were additional challenges for women because they were considered the primary or only caretakers for their family. They faced issues with finding accessible child care."
~ Rachel Mintz
"Study: Women farmworkers in Michigan face unique work challenges"
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