Solidarity economy and the challenges of rural female entrepreneurship

a case study in the Association of Colonies

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the solidarity economy and the challenges of rural female entrepreneurship in the Association of Colonies. The choice of a female sample is essentially due to the fact that the insertion of women in the productive system constitutes a privileged factor in the analysis of the transformations that have been taking place with the feminine in modernity. This study aims to evaluate theoretical discussions for a brief reflection on issues that permeate the theme of female entrepreneurship and the challenges that surround it, namely, the solidarity economy and e-commerce, aiming to articulate the influence that one exerts on the other in the face of of the current entrepreneurship scenario. Data collection took place through in loco observation analysis, which provided accessibility to data referring to the Community Kitchen Project. As a result, it was found that, from the work in the Associação das Colônias, women established important relationships between them, leading to their visibility and identity, through professionalization and consequent improvement of the quality of life through material achievements. This promoted its insertion in the public space, extrapolating the private space. The importance of encouraging and producing regional products is also highlighted, bringing results that are not immediately measurable, such as the generation of wealth and technological development. The weaknesses and challenges highlighted are associated with the lack of strategic planning and knowledge of basic management and economic tools, still without autonomy to manage the complete process and lack of knowledge of the profit margin and break-even point.