Immigrant Women in the U.S. Food Industry

This report documents the workplace experiences of immigrant women who have come to the United States to escape poverty. It describes how the laws that are in place to protect them from exploitation are grossly inadequate. Section three talks specifically about sexual violence experienced in the workplace. Results are from interviews with approximately 150 women who are either currently undocumented or have spent time in the U.S. as undocumented immigrants. The women all have worked in the U.S. food industry in Arkansas, California, Florida, Iowa, New York or North Carolina. Researchers also interviewed a number of advocates who work with immigrant women and farmworkers.