Grupos domésticos, família e participação da mulher (famílias de baixa renda no nordeste do Pará)

Abstract

The studies about the condition of Amazonian rural working women are still scarce. However, they stimulated this research exercise. Within the context of this theme, I focused on the income generation of rural workers in northeastern Pará and the relationship with job satisfaction. In this sense, it was necessary to enter into the reality of the women. Thus, I participated in the 2nd Meeting of Women Rural Entrepreneurs of the Amazon, an event that had as its objective the socialization of the experiences of women entrepreneurs, identifying their difficulties related to organization, legislation, exposure, and quality of the products they produce. Another objective of the event was to enable partnerships related to the above mentioned difficulties. When I got to know the MMNEPA - Northeast Paraense Women's Movement - I visited Nova Timboteua (municipality located in the northeast of Para), in order to get to know the activities developed by the women participating in the Movement. For the development of the research several actions were carried out. From bibliographic research, participation in MMNEPA activities, to in-depth conversations with six rural women workers. I carried out sentimental interviews with these women about their lives, their work, and income generation. I was able to obtain some data about the reality of these women. They are characterized by being farmers, with a low income level, and having between one and five children. They take on responsibilities with housework and material needs (partially) for their families. Despite the material needs and the restrictions concerning their survival, they state that they feel satisfied with their activity in agriculture and that they do not intend to change their place of residence and/or work activity. However, it can be seen that they still aspire to a better life, since they face many difficulties, as in health, for example. It is necessary to deepen the knowledge of the reality and the living conditions of rural women, in addition to better understand the role of social movements, such as the MMNEPA and other types of women's organizations. It would be important to study if these women visualize other employment alternatives and/or activities in general. It should be asked if they have this possibility of choice. Without this choice, the concept of satisfaction is hardly applicable. Job satisfaction cannot be measured by income alone. There is only a correlation between the two variables.