‪De l’exploitation familiale à la mobilisation collective‪. La place des conjointes dans un mouvement d’agriculteurs victimes des pesticides

?This article explores the interplay between some structural changes of farmers? families in France and the political representation of farmers? interests. It does so by focusing on the role of women in a social movement gathering agricultural workers claiming to be ?victims of pesticides?. We show that as wives, women have provided crucial support to the farmers in the trajectory that has enabled them to consider and claim themselves as victims. Yet, we also demonstrate how ambiguous their position within the movement remains : recognized as essential intermediates for collective action, they are seen as victims only through the experience of bereavement. If such an experience gives them legitimacy within the movement, it also separates them from the agricultural world and induces unavoidable tensions.?