Objective:

To analyze the sexual division of labor and the distribution of benefits around milk and cheese production in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca.

Methodology:

Interviews with 14 women and 17 men, two workshops, participant observation, and 90 questionnaires applied to male and female landowners.

Results:

Most landowners (67.7%) sell unprocessed milk to cheesemakers in the region. Female landowners are either widows or single; as such, they have less access to resources and lower production levels. A smaller percentage (18.8%) of families transform milk into cheese, with women playing a crucial role and having a larger access to benefits.

Limitations:

Landowners were selected from the Ministry of Agriculture program lists, thus excluding cattle owners who are not beneficiaries.

Conclusions:

First, the marital status of women (widowhood or single) increases their vulnerability in the milk market traditionally dominated by men. Second, the transformation of milk into cheese is decreasing in the region, and with it, women’s participation in processing tasks and access to ranch benefits.