Certification programs seek to promote decent work in global agriculture, yet little is known about their gender standards and implications for female workers, who are often the most disadvantaged. This study outlines the gender standard domains of major agricultural certifications, showing how some programs (Fair Trade USA, Rainforest) prioritize addressing gender equality in employment and others (Fairtrade International, UTZ) incorporate wider gender rights. To illuminate the implications of gender standards in practice, I analyze Fairtrade certification and worker experience on certified flower plantations in Ecuador, drawing on a qualitative and quantitative field research study. (1) I show how Fairtrade seeks to bolster the wellbeing of female workers, addressing their workplace needs via equal employment, treatment, and remuneration standards and their reproductive needs via maternity leave and childcare services. My research demonstrates that for female workers, addressing family responsibilities is critical, since they shape women’s ability to take paid jobs, their employment needs, and their overall wellbeing. (2) I show how Fairtrade seeks to bolster the rights of women workers through individual and collective capacity building standards. My findings reveal how promoting women’s individual empowerment serves as a precondition for collective empowerment, and how targeting traditional labor rights is insufficient for empowering female workers, since their strategic choices are curtailed largely outside the workplace. While Fairtrade certification bolsters the wellbeing and rights of female workers in and beyond the workplace, much still needs to be done before women can claim their rights as workers and citizens.

中文翻译：

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性别平等、劳工权利和妇女赋权：厄瓜多尔花卉种植园公平贸易认证的经验教训

认证计划旨在促进全球农业中的体面工作，但对其性别标准及其对女性工人的影响知之甚少，而女性工人往往处于最不利的地位。本研究概述了主要农业认证的性别标准领域，展示了一些计划（Fair Trade USA、Rainforest）如何优先解决就业中的性别平等问题，而其他计划（Fairtrade International、UTZ）如何纳入更广泛的性别权利。为了阐明性别标准在实践中的影响，我利用定性和定量的实地研究分析了公平贸易认证和厄瓜多尔认证花卉种植园的工人经验。(1) 我展示了公平贸易如何寻求提高女工的福祉，通过平等就业、待遇、产假和儿童保育服务的薪酬标准及其生殖需求。我的研究表明，对于女工来说，解决家庭责任至关重要，因为她们塑造了女性从事有偿工作的能力、就业需求和整体福祉。(2) 我展示了公平贸易如何通过个人和集体能力建设标准来寻求支持女工的权利。我的研究结果揭示了促进女性个人赋权如何作为集体赋权的先决条件，以及针对传统劳工权利如何不足以赋予女性工人权力，因为她们的战略选择在很大程度上在工作场所之外受到限制。虽然公平贸易认证可以促进工作场所内外女工的福祉和权利，