Agricultural economics is a field which traditionally has been dominated almost exclusively by men. Until recently it was highly unusual to find a female agricultural economist; even now, women form a minority in agricultural economics degree programs and comprise less than 5% of the AAEA membership. What motivates women to enter an all -male or mostlymale field? How do their family and academic backgrounds differ from these of their male counterparts? What affects whether or not they go on to pursue a Ph.D. degree in agricultural economics?