Women herders are essential to pastoralism in Mongolia. Their multiple responsibilities are coupled with impressive knowledge of animals, environments and business. Cast as milkers, mothers and livestock managers neglects their strong role in household decision-making, organising pasture user groups and community support and encouraging mentoring and education at all levels. In typical Asian fashion, men are accorded respect as titular heads. This disparages Gobi women’s lifetime contributions, changing roles and growing insistence for recognition of their key labour and wisdom. In the open forum of Mongolian life women are now asserting that ‘champion’ recognition and titles are shared equally rather than men-only. Their perception of climate change implications, strategising for adaptative measures and efforts for pastoral parity are a positive example for rural women around the globe. Covid-19 showed the strength and vital importance of herding in Mongolia. In the post-pandemic period the principal role of women herders merits recognition.
This paper examines the changing role of women to introduce a gender lens on contemporary herding. It focuses on more specific women’s conceptions and perspectives related to herding processes in Mongolia. Research evaluates how herder women assess climate and environmental changes, how they work to reframe existing narratives on designated roles and recognition of success and female strategies for adapting to changing physical and social dynamics in the countryside. Rather than a subsumed voice, the paper enables women herders to centre current debates. This acknowledges their vital work and recognises their knowledge, leadership and centrality to herding. Whilst men dominate pastoral discussion, the independence and strength of Mongolian women herders deserve greater status in Mongolian discourse. Their ability to create space to reframe herding debate presents a fine example for future the direction of pastoralism in the 21st century.
