Living Condition and Life Chances: A Case Study of Women Farmers in Barangay Labney, Munoz, Nueva Ecija

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the relationship between the living condition and life chances of women farmers in Barangay Labney, Munoz, Nueva Ecija. Factors such as education level attained, type of work, time allocation, technology used and owned, income generated from work, expenditures, and health condition, collectively known as living condition, of the women farmers as well as their feelings and attitudes towards their life chances and their coping strategies were taken into account. The study was presented in six case studies; the data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and unobtrusive observation of the women farmers, the primary respondents. Results showed that lack of education is the primary factor which leads the women into their consequent working condition; types of work, time allocation, technology use and ownership, income generated from work, and expenditure; and life chances. Furthermore, types of work of the women affect their time allocation and income thus affecting their expenditure. Time allocation also affects the income and expenditure of the women. Technology use and ownership is not usual for the women farmers. Their working condition worsens because of the health problems those women farmers can acquire from working in the field and the women’s lack of access to health services. Also, women’s living condition; their education level, working condition, and health condition; is another factor that affects the attitudes and feelings of the women farmers towards their life chances. But this study showed that the attitudes and feelings of the women farmers towards their life chances is not the primary factor which affects their living condition represented by their coping strategies. This is due to the effects of other factors like the issues within their community.