“Sindicato é pra quem entende” (des)igualdade de gênero no sindicalismo dos empregados rurais de Moju – Pará

Abstract

Rural women began participating in greater numbers in trade unions, and other social movements and organizations at the start of the 1980s. However, women's access to leadership positions is still restricted. In this work I analyze the actions of women employed in the oil palm cultivation sector and involved in the management of the SERMTAB - the Moju Rural Workers Union. This research is predominantly qualitative, involving a case study in the municipality of Moju, Pará. Non-directive and semi-structured interviews were carried out with members of the Union's management, consisting of nine directors of which three are women. The main findings show that SERMTAB is the largest representation body for rural employees in Moju. Members of the management work in family-based agriculture and come from a wide range of backgrounds and include young people, women and older men. However, decision-making spaces are still in the hands of men. The fact that the union's capacity for action is restricted and power relations hierarchized means that women remain in a subaltern position and under male domination. Breakdown of power relations does, however, take place in a subtle manner when women accept to participate in the union, challenge family structures, debate with other workers and confront prejudice in their role as trade unionists. Nevertheless, the fact that women are not formally part of management hinders their emergence as rural, wage-earning workers and trade unionists.