Peasant feminist economy: knowledge, experience and productive organization of women in movement in Brazil

Abstract

This article seeks to bring and develop reflections on understandings of economics, feminism and peasantry that are dialogued and constructed from the Peasant Women's Movement (MMC) of Brazil. The elaboration is the result of participant observation, carried out by the authors who present this essay and who propose the constant challenge of carrying out engaged, participatory and militant research, which goes hand in hand with the concrete organizational and formative action carried out with peasant women. The conclusion reached is that through the historical construction of 41 years of existence, the members of the MMC base their knowledge and practices on peasant feminist praxis, on the proposals of popular education, on the struggle of resistance, on the confrontation of injustices, on the search for rights, on theoretical formulations and on the development of feminist economics, based on agroecology and solidarity developed from, but not limited to, productive backyards. The peasant, indigenous, black and popular movements build territories of resistance and confrontation against the capitalist bases of production, as well as the patriarchal culture and racism that underpin the system of exploitation of women's work and lives. Furthermore, this peasant movement is based on the diversified production of healthy foods. Both actions are articulated and form the fundamental basis for the construction and continuity of life projects for the countryside and cities, as well as for the transformation of society that they defend, which starts from the local, the community, but which has a national and international interpretation and articulation.