The embodiment of agricultural machine work of young Swiss farm manageresses

This article focuses on the embodiment of agricultural machine work and the construction of gendered identity in young Swiss farm manageresses. Our data is based on two focus groups of women who run their own farms. Unlike farming women, these women are meant to operate machinery in one way or another. Hence, the incorporation of machinery and the construction of their gendered identity may involve different features than for farm women. Our research is based on Brandth’s (2006) concept of gendered embodiment of agricultural work for farm women in Nor-way. The analysis shows, however, that young farm manageresses also negotiate their gendered identity differently when dealing with machines. All four processes described by Brandth for farm wom-en were also identified for farm manageresses. Agricultural train-ing is crucial in the construction of gendered identities and the embodiment of machinery. Women who are skilled in operating machinery ignore their femininity and reproduce hegemonic mas-culine concepts associated with machines. The embodiment of machinery then forms part of their professional and feminine iden-tity.