Levin, Jeffrey L. (author), Doyle, Eva I. (author), Gilmore, Karen H. (author), Wickman, Amanda J. (author), Nonnenmann, Matthew W. (author), and Huff, Sharon D. (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2009
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 140 Document Number: D05950
Fisher, Karen E. (author), Marcoux, Elizabeth (Betty) (author), Miller, Lupine S. (author), Sanchez, Agueda (author), and Ramirez Cunningham, Eva (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2004-10
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 152 Document Number: C24567
Via UI electronic subscription, "This article shows that as much as the mobile phone is a liberatory and equalizing technology, it can also reinforce rather than upset patriarchal power relationships."
13 pages, This article looks at the United States’ federal H-2A Temporary Agricultural Visa Program and reforms proposed by the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. In this policy analysis, we draw on media content analysis and qualitative interviews to compare the viewpoints of farmers, workers, grower and worker advocacy groups, intermediary agents, and politicians. We find that perspectives on the program are dependent upon actors’ level of direct interaction with workers. Moderate-sized farmers and regionally based worker advocacy groups tend to be the most concerned with day-to-day program operations and fair working conditions. In contrast, national-level advocacy groups, intermediary agents, and politicians are less critical of the program and seek to broadly expand farmer access to guestworkers, justifying proposed program reforms with discourses of national food security and immigration reform. Ultimately, we suggest that engaging a food systems lens to understand these policies provides a more nuanced perspective, addressing national food security and immigration as related issues.
