GENDER DISCRIMINATION AND WOMEN’S DECISION-MAKING IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: EVIDENCE FROM ECUADOR

Abstract This study analyses the barriers affecting women’s participation in sustainable agricultural decision-making in Ambato, Ecuador. Its aim is to quantify the relative impact of discriminatory constraints versus gender-responsive institutional support on women’s agency. Using a quantitative approach, we estimated a covariance-based structural equation model (SEM) based on primary survey data from 105 female farmers. The model specifies and tests the structural relationships among discrimination barriers, gender-responsive institutional factors, and women’s participation in decision-making processes. The findings indicate that, although perceived discrimination is significantly associated with constraints on women’s decision-making (β = 0.292, p = .012), the positive effects of gender-responsive institutional factors, such as access to training and secure land tenure, are considerably stronger and more decisive (β = 0.853, p < .001). The overall model fit is satisfactory (CFI = 0.946, RMSEA = 0.062), supporting the validity of the results. Theoretically, the evidence supports feminist arguments that transforming institutional structures is the primary pathway to empowerment. Practically, the findings suggest prioritizing institutional capacities such as targeted training, inclusive extension services, and participatory governance to strengthen women’s decision-making power and foster a more equitable agricultural system.