Theoretical Analysis

Female Participation in Rural Economic Activity

Abstract

Women have always been a relevant part of the guarantee for the food and nutritional security of the families, for historically participating in the development of agriculture. His presence remained unobtrusive for a long time in the industry. Today the participation of women in an active way in the different occupations of society integrates an increasingly increasing reality. The objective of the present study is to demonstrate through theoretical analysis that in recent years, the participation of women has contributed to the development of society and the innovation of rural life. This work is a first effort to identify and characterize the profile of women in rural economic activity and an attempt to know where and how they act, as well as the demands and obstacles faced by being part of an environment traditionally dominated by men in Brazil. It is notable that the participation of women in family agriculture has been boosting national socioeconomic development, so its role in Brazil in the production of food has become a world reference, certainly would not have achieved such relevant results without the knowledge, capacity, competence and the way in which women are involved in the organization of the productive process of family agriculture. Although in a very timid way, women work in planting, harvesting, processing, marketing their products in agro-ecological fairs and contribute to the qualification of production with specialized technical assistance, leading associations and cooperatives, are entrepreneurs, assuming an important role in productive process, besides contributing effectively to build ways to overcome situations of inequality.