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Connecting Public Policies for Family Farmers and Women’s Empowerment: The Case of the Brazilian Semi-Arid

Author

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  • Emily Aparecida Ferreira Brandão

    (Institute of Geography, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
    Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Thiago da Rocha Santos

    (Rural technical assistant, coordinator of the Cooperativa Sertão Forte de Casa Nova e Região (COOAF), Casa Nova, Bahia 47300-000, Brazil)

  • Stephan Rist

    (Institute of Geography, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
    Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
    UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Mountain Development, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

Abstract

The role played by women in worldwide food production and food security has reinvigorated debates about the recognition of women’s rights in the rural sector regarding better working conditions and the reduction of gender inequalities. In the 1980s, the social movement in Brazil restructured the politics in the agrarian sector by integrating farmers’ rights and women’s demands. Against this background, the objective of this study is to analyze, through the actors’ perspectives, whether and how the combination of public policies for family farmers affected the socio-economic and political empowerment of women. Our case study covers family farmers from traditional communities located in the Brazilian semi-arid. The results show that women achieved economic stability by participating in public food procurement programmes. In addition, access to cisterns released women from the daily work of collecting water. Women became more involved with political issues, increasing participation in institutions such as NGOs, associations and cooperatives. Among the negative aspects, the study found that the sexual division of labor increased within the household context, and, despite being fundamental for ensuring household food security, women still struggle to have access to the means of production.

Suggested Citation

  • Emily Aparecida Ferreira Brandão & Thiago da Rocha Santos & Stephan Rist, 2020. "Connecting Public Policies for Family Farmers and Women’s Empowerment: The Case of the Brazilian Semi-Arid," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-22, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:15:p:5961-:d:389017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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