Who are you calling Mother Nature? Exploring metaphor resonance among young women farmers: A comparative study in the US and France

This study places the argumentative function of the Mother Nature metaphor at the heart of its analysis, aiming to map the understanding of the human–nature relationship by a group overlooked in environmental dialogues: farmers who work with “nature.” Among them, young women are increasingly entering agriculture by choice, moving beyond the traditional role of farmer’s wife to become farmers, and are recognized for their strong commitment to environmentally sustainable practices. This research examines how these young women define the Mother Nature metaphor, viewed as both empowering and ambivalent, and how these definitions reflect the values that guide their farming practices.

Data were gathered from 54 young women farmers in the USA and France through in-depth interviews. Participants shared their definitions and created imaginative illustrations of Mother Nature. Using qualitative thematic coding informed by argumentation theory, the study analyzed how the metaphor resonates with participants across three dimensions: verbal expression, meaning-making in farming careers, and visual representation, within a comparative cross-country framework.

Findings indicate that resistance to the Mother Nature metaphor was primarily driven by its hierarchical framing and the medium through which it was presented, rather than its gendered aspects. French farmers more often rejected the metaphor’s sacred value, while American farmers focused on nature’s unpredictability instead of its divinity. Despite verbal resistance to hierarchical and personified views, visual and emotional responses revealed persistent, sometimes unconscious, associations with personification and interconnectedness. French farmers typically illustrated Mother Nature at the landscape or ecosystem scale, whereas Americans favored planetary or global scales.

Young women farmers’ narratives demonstrate a nuanced engagement with the Mother Nature metaphor, shaped by their environmental values, cultural backgrounds, and professional experiences. The study shows that the metaphor’s meaning depends on the interplay of cultural imagery, cross-cultural exposure, and the individual’s inner world.

This study explores how the metaphor “Mother Nature” shapes arguments in environmental discussions, set against the backdrop of two major shifts occurring simultaneously: the persuasive use of environmental communication by diverse communication actors such as scientists, journalists, and activists, and the rise of alternative agriculture movements and a new generation of farmers who symbolize a shift in the understanding of human–nature relationships by advocating for a more reciprocal engagement with nature.

While these parallel trends advance, investigations of farmers’ environmental behaviors often note the importance of another demographic characteristic: gender. Scholars document a stronger predisposition among women farmers toward environmentally friendly farming practices than among male farmers. However, while the majority of research linking women farmers and their environmental concerns has illuminated the outer world (external values), far less attention has been paid to the inner world (inner values). Narrowing its focus to young women farmers, this study seeks to access the unspoken inner world underlying their understanding of the human–nature relationship and how this relationship informs their farming lives, using metaphor analysis.

The study invited young women farmers in the USA and France to discuss how they define “Mother Nature” and to share their personal stories and drawings. By examining what they said and drew, the study created a way to understand how the metaphor of “Mother Nature” help to explore their views about nature and their farming careers. Findings show how their real-life experiences in farming shape the way they think about the relationship between people and the natural world, and vice versa.