The Role of Women Within the Agricultural Economics Society: An Historical Perspective

This note explores the historical role and changing prevalence of women within the Agricultural Economics Society (AES) over its first century. Despite an initial founding commitment in 1926 to membership for men and women on equal terms, female participation remained low for much of the twentieth century. Early contributors such as E. Handlen, Mabel K. Ashby and especially Ruth Cohen made significant intellectual and professional contributions, with Cohen later becoming the Society's first female president. However, progress was uneven and constrained by wider structural barriers, social norms and a limited pipeline to senior roles. While the AES at times led comparable organisations in promoting women, it lacked sustained institutional strategies to support gender equality. Recent decades have seen improved representation, greater visibility and increased leadership roles for women, though disparities persist, not least in the recipients of AES awards for excellence. Continued, systematic efforts are needed to achieve the Society's founding goal of gender equality.