We are celebrating international womens day; The fascinating role of women in the history of beekeeping

Bees have long been champions of our ecosystems, buzzing from flower to flower and powering the pollination that sustains global food systems. But just as invisible as their work has often been the role of women alongside them — tending hives, shaping communities, and driving both ecological stewardship and economic opportunity. This International Women’s Day, it’s worth taking a moment to honour the deep legacy of women in beekeeping — from ancient practices to global empowerment programmes like UNESCO’s Women for Bees initiative.

Egyptians were among the earliest documented beekeepers, using cylindrical clay hives along the Nile. While much of the recorded agricultural knowledge comes from male scribes, daily hive tending and honey processing likely involved women within household and temple economies. In a more balanced society ahead of its time women could own property and manage businesses, apiculture would have been an important and respected livelihood.

In Ancient Egypt, as in many cultures, bees symbolised structured community, rebirth, and harmony — qualities deeply tied to feminine creativity and continuity of life.

In Ancient Greece, bees were considered divine creatures. The priestesses of Artemis, Demeter, and Persephone were often called Melissae — meaning “bees.” These women were seen as spiritual intermediaries, embodying the purity, industriousness, and life-giving power associated with the hive. Indeed Aphrodite was strongly linked to bees, symbolising love and sweetness. In Greek thought, the hive mirrored an ideal society — cooperative, purposeful, and harmonious — qualities long associated with feminine wisdom. Women here managed household economies. Honey was vital: used for food, medicine, cosmetics, and religious offerings. Women’s stewardship of hives quietly sustained both family livelihoods and sacred rituals.

More recently among Celtic societies, including those influenced by Celts traditions, bees were seen as messengers between worlds carrying wisdom from the spiritual realm. Honey was sacred in Druidic rituals, and mead — fermented honey — was central to ceremony and celebration. Bees symbolised continuity, community, and the delicate balance between humans and nature. Female Druids held a high-ranking, powerful, and respected position in ancient Celtic society. They were considered intellectual equals to their male counterparts, serving as seers, priestesses, healers, and, in some cases, warriors. It was these powerful female druids that are believed to have been the mead makers.

In the 19th century, pioneers such as Ellen Smith Tupper helped shape modern apiculture, publishing research and editing beekeeping journals at a time when women’s scientific voices were often marginalised.

Today, women are among the fastest-growing demographics in beekeeping worldwide. From backyard apiaries to commercial operations and conservation research, women are leading innovation in sustainable hive management, biodiversity protection, and pollinator advocacy.

 UNESCO’s Women for Bees: Protecting Pollinators & Empowering Women

One landmark effort bridging gender, ecology and economic resilience is the Women for Bees project, a partnership between UNESCO and Guerlain that puts women at the centre of sustainable beekeeping in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves worldwide.

Launched in 2020, Women for Bees focuses on:

• Empowering women through expert-led beekeeping training and access to hives and equipment in regions where women have been historically excluded from formal apicultural roles.

• Supporting biodiversity and pollinator conservation, recognising that healthy bee populations are foundational to thriving ecosystems.

• Building resilient livelihoods by enabling women to generate income through honey production and by creating entrepreneurial networks of women apiarists.

Across Africa, Asia, Europe and beyond, women involved in the project are becoming community leaders — learning sustainable practices, restoring traditional knowledge, and strengthening local economies through honey and bee-related enterprises. In places like Guinea and Senegal, research tied to the programme has documented how women’s active participation in honey harvesting and hive care contributes directly to household income and broader community wellbeing.

Why It Matters on International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is more than a date on the calendar — it’s an occasion to amplify the stories that often go unheard and to celebrate the quiet revolutions happening in communities everywhere. The story of women in beekeeping is one such narrative: rooted in tradition, strengthened by science and community, and soaring toward a future where women are recognised as environmental stewards and economic innovators.

Whether it’s the woman tending a few backyard hives, the researcher documenting honey-harvesting practices in a Biosphere Reserve, or the graduate of a global beekeeping training programme leading her own cooperative — these women are forging paths that are as sweet and vital as the honey they harvest.

This International Women’s Day, let’s honour their work — and the bees that connect us all.