Social constructs, male prejudices, tradition and culture: are these undermining female-headed farming households’ fundamental right to food security?

Purpose Amidst a substantial body of research investigating gender discrimination within formal employment sectors, this study concentrates on a critical yet frequently overlooked dimension: the non-formal agriculture sector. It aims to elucidate how prevailing male prejudices and entrenched social constructs systematically disadvantage female household heads in their quest for household food security. Design/methodology/approach This study investigates food security status and statistical disparities between female-headed and male-headed households utilizing data from 63,601 farming households. By identifying the factors contributing to gender-based discrimination, we empirically evaluate their impact on households’ food security by applying the discrete choice ordered logit model. Findings The results demonstrate significantly higher levels of food insecurity among female-headed households than their male counterparts ( p < 0.05). It empirically establishes that factors contributing to discrimination adversely affect female farmers’ ability to secure food. These factors include challenges in accessing markets, smaller farm sizes and receiving less government assistance than male farmers. Originality/value While previous studies have acknowledged gender discrimination, this research is the first to systematically demonstrate how various factors directly impact food security in female-headed households in Fiji, thereby addressing a critical gap in the literature. Focusing specifically on the intersection of gender discrimination and food security, this study provides robust empirical evidence of the profound influence of gender discrimination and male biases on the food security of these households, thereby making a significant and original contribution to the field and underlining the importance of this research.