Desenvolvimento, gênero e cooperativismo: Limites e possibilidades da cooperativa de floricultores do Estado da Paraíba (COFEP)

Abstract

The cooperative system as reactionary and opposition to economic liberalism in Britain and France in the nineteenth century have maintained their principles and values and responsible for the performance of enterprises able to foster innovative economic activities and trigger development processes from local and potential interactions among active players execution of actions that consolidate the territory. In this perspective, this study focused on targeting the perspective of rural territorial development by understanding the cooperative, gender and territory categories inherent in this process. We sought to examine the lived experience of women responsible for founding the Cooperative Floriculturists the state of Paraíba (COFEP) in order to generate income for the unemployed and Avarzeado Almecega communities located in rural Paraiba swamp families. Regarding the means of investigation, research characterized the case study and interviews and questionnaires were used, and site visits. For the questionnaires were addressed to 12 cooperative and the interviews was involved a sample of six married women with children. The experience of COFEP revealed a cooperative venture that changed the economic base of families involved in the cooperative. Changes have occurred regarding the financial situation of the cooperative and the cooperative dynamics developed in COFEP reflected in positive consequences in the family of these women, especially in gender relations. It is an activity that was consolidated in the region with expansion plans, striving for enhancement of stakeholders and local potential.