Susan O'Rourke | October 14, 2021
UNC World View is excited to recognize International Day of Rural Women this Friday, October 15th. First held by the United Nations in 2008, International Day of Rural Women celebrates the achievements of women working in “[agriculture] and rural development” across the globe, from owning businesses, operating farms, and contributing to the economic growth and health of their communities. This day also brings attention to the need for increased support for rural women in different regions of the world, whether through improving the quality of healthcare, ensuring women receive compensation for their work, or increasing access to Internet services. UNC World View encourages teachers to talk with students about the key cultural and economic contributions of rural women both here in North Carolina and around the world.
Contextual Resources
- In Focus: International Day of Rural Women (UN Women)
- International Day of Rural Women Theme: Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All (UN Women 2021)
- International Day of Rural Women Theme: Rural Women and Girls Building Climate Resilience (UN Women 2019)
- Empowering Rural Women Through the SDGs (UN Women)
Classroom Resources
- UN International Day of Rural Women Media Kit
- National Agriculture in the Classroom
- Thunder Cake (Book and Related Lesson Plans for Grades K-5)
- The Role of Women in Agriculture (Lesson Plan for Grades 9-12)
- Ag in the Classroom: Books of the Month + Activity Sheets (NC Farm Bureau)
- Amelia’s Road
- Seedfolks (Ages 10+)
- Apple Picking Time
- North Carolina Women Making History (NC Museum of History)
Profiles of Rural Women Across the Globe and in NC
- Profile of Zivka Gjurchinovska, North Macedonia (UN Women)
- Video: Empowering Indigenous Women Through Transformative Social and Economic Change in Guatemala (UN Women)
- Stories of Rural Women in NC
- Profile of Folk Singer Elizabeth Cotton (UNC Libraries)
- #RuralWomenLead Profile Series (Rural Assembly)
- NC Women in Agritourism Project (NCSU)
- Craft Revival: Shaping Western North Carolina Past and Present (Profiles of Craftswomen, Including Indigenous Craftswomen, Western Carolina University)