TRAINING TO BE FARMERS OR WIVES - AGRICULTURAL TRAINING FOR WOMEN IN NORTHERN-IRELAND

Previous research has illustrated how inheritance, entry to farming, g ender role perceptions and conceptualizations of women's work role hav e shaped the situation of farm women. This paper argues that agricultu ral education and training provisions also shape the situation of farm women. The sociology of education generally, and feminist debates on education, provide a useful framework of analysis for agricultural edu cation and training provisions for women. This is illustrated by a stu dy of five farm women's groups in Northern Ireland. It is clear that t he organization of education and training has the potential to accompl ish significant change.