Participação das mulheres na gestão econômica e financeira de propriedades rurais de agricultura familiar.

Abstract

The The research addresses the economic and financial management of rural properties from the perspective of women associated with the Women's Committee of the Rural Workers and Family Farmers' Union of Santa Cruz do Sul/RS. The general objective was to investigate women's perceptions of their participation in economic and financial management. To achieve this, the specific objectives included: describing these women's management practices, verifying their participation in management, studying actions related to decision-making, and analyzing how women perceive themselves in management processes. The target audience of the research consisted of women who are members of the Women's Committee of the Union, residing in Santa Cruz do Sul, Sinimbu, Vale do Sol, and Herveiras—municipalities that form the union's territorial base. The dissertation is structured into chapters that address the gender context in the rural environment, rural property management from a territorial approach, economic and financial management in family farming, and managerial controls in rural properties. The methodology used was phenomenology, and 18 in-depth interviews were conducted with participants. The use of Maguerez’s Arch allowed for an in-depth analysis of women's experiences in managing their properties. The results indicated that although women recognize their active contribution to management and decision-making within the family unit, they often face an overload of tasks, both domestic and productive. Economic and financial management practices in rural properties, while present, are conducted informally and intuitively, lacking standardization or the use of appropriate controls such as cash flow management and financial statements. Additionally, there is difficulty in separating the economic and financial aspects of productive activities from the family's personal finances. The research also highlights the need to develop economic and financial management practices in rural properties, as well as the importance of providing training spaces and access to technical tools that can improve management and labor division. Regarding the study’s limitations, which are restricted to the specific group of women in the Women's Committee, the findings suggest a broad field for future studies that explore the challenges faced by rural producers in standardizing data and making more informed decisions.