Women's empowerment: the experience of a fishing community in Brazil connected to an international non-governmental organisation
by Regina Yoshie Matsue; Mario Henrique Ogasavara; Fatima Regina Ney Matos; Diego De Queiroz Machado
International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies (IJGSDS), Vol. 1, No. 3, 2016

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse a case study of a fishing village located on the northeast coast of Brazil, showing how women are fighting against gender and social inequalities. The local women are organised locally and have the support of a Japanese non-governmental organisation (NGO), Children of Light, in their search for alternative income and ways to empower their lives and their community. Using a qualitative study, based on an anthropological perspective, the fieldwork research included visits to the community and participant observation of the NGOs' activities and women's meetings. Additionally, the open interview was used as a data collection technique. This study shows how the NGO became the women's main partner in their struggle for freedom and better economic opportunities. In cases where important services, representations, and social cohesion are lacking, NGOs play a critical role in governance and value creation for social ends. These events have triggered the community's process of social change; however, the community's empowerment will be consolidated when it becomes economically self-sustainable.

Online publication date: Fri, 22-Apr-2016

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies (IJGSDS):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com