Gender and the Imaginary of Forestry in Boreal Ecosystems

Abstract

In this chapter, we examine forestry work in two boreal regions—Canada and Sweden—where gender mainstreaming has long been established in government policy. Despite having policies that support gender equality in both countries, the roles, opportunities, remuneration, and expectations of women and men engaged in forestry work are highly differentiated by gender. We explain this discrepancy by considering the way in which forestry work has been and continues to be imagined. The narrow interpretation of forestry as “tree cutting” has reduced the visibility of women and continues to narrow the range of activities deemed valuable to the forestry sector. By asking questions about how forestry has been imagined, we seek to catalyze fresh thinking about the nature of forestry work and the capacity of the forest industry in both countries to adapt to climate change.