Amparo Gonzalez

Amparo González J. is a social worker who is prominent in social research and the development of social policies and programmes. She is completing her PhD in Public Policy at the University of Birmingham, UK. Amparo has a deep passion for issues related to gender, participatory research, governance, agriculture and specially in public policy.

In her career, Amparo Gonzalez has led research that has resulted in innovative initiatives promoting sustainability and community engagement. She has also represented gender interests to government to advocate for equality and diversity policies in the workplace. In addition, she has developed evidence-based frameworks to promote organizational integrity and inclusion in major institutions and companies.

In Chile, small-scale agriculture is a fundamental pillar of the rural economy and a space where life, tradition and sustainability are intertwined. However, this sector, rich in potential and vitality, faces unique challenges, especially when viewed through a gender lens. My research dives into this world, exploring how agricultural policies specifically impact the development of women in smallholder agriculture. Despite their crucial role in food production and maintaining biodiversity, women smallholder farmers often find themselves at a crossroads of inequalities, marginalised by policies that fail to recognise and address their specific challenges and contributions.

Through participatory research, filled with semi-structured interviews, focus groups, meetings, and group work, this study reveals the lived reality of women in the Chilean countryside, highlighting the barriers and opportunities that stand in their way. These are some facets explored from the demographic evolution that sees the agricultural population ageing without an assured generational renewal to discrimination and lack of access to resources and decision-making. My research seeks not only to shed light on these issues but also to promote a dialogue on how agricultural policies can evolve to effectively support women's empowerment in agriculture, recognising their indispensable role in the sustainable future of the sector. This effort is not only a step towards gender equity in rural areas but also a bid for a more resilient and diverse agriculture in Chile.