Changes in society and attitudes, herding traditions as well as increased gender equality and a higher educational level and technological development, among others, have affected the practices and agency of women in reindeer husbandry.

A study on women’s role in reindeer husbandry was published in February 2026 in Journal of Rural Studies. The article examines women’s role in reindeer herding by focusing on women’s own views and everyday experiences. The authors of the article work at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland, the University of Oulu, and Lapland University of Applied Sciences.

Researchers organized three workshops for female members of reindeer herding communities in northern Finland. Discussions in the workshops revealed that, in addition to the physically demanding core tasks of reindeer herding, women considered the diverse tasks of family businesses and households to be part of reindeer herding.

“A wide range of office tasks, such as financial planning, bookkeeping, writing applications for substitutes and compensations, compiling reindeer statistics, ordering supplies and writing statements are often taken care by women. On the other hand, household tasks such as childcare, taking care of domestic animals, coordinating the family’s social life, providing emotional support, keeping an eye on the big picture, and taking care of daily logistics are also part of the everyday life of a reindeer herding family, for which women often bear responsibility,” says researcher and reindeer herder Iida Melamies.

The proportion of female reindeer owners is growing

The total number of reindeer owners has fallen over the last thirty years from around 7,500 to just over 4,300. However, the number of female reindeer owners has remained roughly the same, which means that the relative proportion of women among reindeer owners has increased. The proportion of reindeer owned by women has also gradually increased.

The increase in the number of reindeer owned by women is significant in terms of decision-making, as the voting rights of reindeer herding cooperative members are determined based on the number of reindeer they own. The proportion of women in administrative positions in reindeer husbandry has been and still is significantly lower than that of men, even though the number of women on reindeer herding cooperative boards and among staff has increased from the 1980s to the present day, says researcher Minna Turunen.

Advanced technology and high level of education bring new opportunities

In the workshops targeted to female reindeer herders it became apparent that technological development and digitalization can support a more equal division of labor and promote women’s agency in reindeer husbandry.

The workshop participants felt that, for example, better vehicles make it easier for women to work far from home, and on the other hand, navigating to even the most remote pastures is easier with the help of reindeer GPS collars and internet connections.

In reindeer herding families, women are often educated and seek employment outside the home. Although education takes time away from reindeer husbandry, it also gives women the opportunity to bring new skills to the reindeer herding cooperatives. Completely new practices and roles, in which women are active, have also emerged in reindeer husbandry, for example through land use negotiations and communication via social media.  

The role of women in reindeer husbandry has also been influenced by broader changes in gender-related expectations and assumptions in society. There is a growing belief that personal qualities are more important than gender in work tasks and working methods.

The original research article is available online.

Publication information: Reindeer husbandry is more than herding – Contemporary roles of women in reindeer husbandry in Finland. Journal of Rural Studies Volume 122, February 2026.

More information:

Minna Turunen, University researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
040 539 1182, minna.turunen@ulapland.fi

Sirpa Rasmus, University researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
040 484 4358, sirpa.rasmus@ulapland.fi

Iida Melamies, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
040 8359598, iida.melamies@ulapland.fi

Teresa Komu, University of Oulu
0503020355, teresa.komu@oulu.fi