Women in the meat industry: past, present and future

Women have always played a fundamental role in the production of Iberian products. However, this role has often been hidden and relegated to certain very specific and less visible jobs.

This is the case of traditional slaughter, where roles have been very marked, with men generally being in charge of slaughtering the animal and women preparing and cooking the sausage products.

The role of women was slightly hidden, despite being a vehicle for transmitting culture and tradition among the young people of the municipalities. This has resulted in the majority of Iberian companies that use a name and surname as a brand using that of a man .

And, although it is true that progress has been made, the gender and recognition gap still exists. The same is true in the industrial production of meat products, where women barely represent 40% of workers and, for the most part, occupy administrative and management positions, as pointed out at the Guijuelo Meat Industry Fair (FIC Guijuelo).

Of course, there has been progress and "the fight for gender equality and the visibility of women's work in the meat sector are generating a tangible impact" , as FIC Guijuelo explains in its article for March 8.

There are several examples that prove this, and we don't need to go very far. This is the case of Rosa Sánchez, manager of Don Ibérico and a role model for many women in the sector.

"Being part of the history of the Guijuelo meat industry is a privilege"

This is how Alicia Hernández, a Don Ibérico worker, described it. She was interviewed by FIC Guijuelo on March 8, International Women's Day.

Alicia, originally from Guijuelo, had always wanted to be part of the town's traditional industry. The opportunity came to her through Don Ibérico, where she has worked for nearly 20 years.

As she tells us, "little by little, the perception of women in the meat industry has been changing and it is now more common to see women working in positions of responsibility and middle management." This is precisely her case, as she works as a quality and export manager. "It is an honour to be part of this great family," she emphasises.

However, there is still a long way to go, which must start from the ground up. A path that involves educating boys and girls in the same way, without prejudices and without gender stereotypes, because, after all, the meat sector and, specifically, the Iberian sector in Guijuelo is "a very interesting sector that offers you a very broad projection at all levels," as Alicia assures.