{"id":29724,"date":"2016-11-07T10:00:42","date_gmt":"2016-11-07T13:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=29724"},"modified":"2018-01-15T13:12:35","modified_gmt":"2018-01-15T16:12:35","slug":"solidarity-economy-part-2-female-protagonists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=29724","title":{"rendered":"Solidarity Economy Part 2: Female Protagonists"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

This is the second article of our three-part series on Solidarity Economy in Brazil<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

With a broader understanding of the\u00a0solidarity economy in Brazil<\/a> in mind, testimonials from participating entrepreneurs themselves show the real advantages of this kind of work, from circumventing market exclusion to creating new kinds of spaces where women are reimagining the divide between domestic and productive spheres.<\/p>\n

T<\/span>here are upwards of 300 solidarity economic enterprises,\u00a0or empreendimentos econ\u00f4micos solid\u00e1rios <\/i>(EESs), participating in\u00a0the 14\u00a0fairs that make up\u00a0Circuito Rio\u00a0EcoSol<\/a>, Rio’s solidarity economy circuit. Many of the participants are from favelas, and many EESs have joined together in networks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Mulheres Guerreiras da Babil\u00f4nia<\/a> (Warrior Women of\u00a0Babil\u00f4nia<\/a>), for example,\u00a0form an association of ten\u00a0women who make bags and accessories with imagery from their community, including imagery representing strong Afro-Brazilian women. They have joined together with other EESs to form a\u00a0network of solidarity economy entrepreneurs from Pav\u00e3o-Pav\u00e3ozinho<\/a>, Mangueira<\/a>, Babil\u00f4nia, and Santa Teresa<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Mara Adell Sustent\u00e1vel<\/a>, an\u00a0association in Complexo do Alem\u00e3o<\/a>, is also in the business of bags and accessories, but with a sustainable focus. Their eight-person association reuses PVC banners, water bottles, and “anything they can get their hands on” to repurpose as\u00a0creative accessories. Mara Adell, an important leader for the association, formed a network of solidarity economy enterprises\u00a0in Complexo do Alem\u00e3o, with 13 EESs, including <\/span>Mara Adell Sustent\u00e1vel<\/span>, participating at present.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Devas<\/a><\/p>\n

Devas<\/a> has been operational in Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a> for 18 years making sustainable clothing. Today there are 12 women participating, though there were 26 at the association\u2019s peak. <\/span>Devas<\/span> founder and facilitator, Clarice Cavalcanti, has played an important leadership role in the push for Rio de Janeiro to have more supportive solidarity economy public policy, winning some important victories. Today, she coordinates four of the 14\u00a0fairs that make up the Circuit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why solidarity economy?<\/h3>\n

So, why do these people, in this case\u00a0largely women from Rio\u2019s favelas, make their living in the solidarity economy? <\/span><\/p>\n

Survival and ideology are the two primary important and interlinked components. In some cases the same person\u00a0is motivated by both of these components: those who know from the deepest firsthand experience that “capitalism is not for everyone\u00a0and it never was<\/a>,” in Clarice\u2019s words, sometimes end up being the most deeply convinced that another world\u2014and another work\u2014are not only possible, but necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, Mara Adell from Complexo do Alem\u00e3o distinguishes between “vendors” and “militants,” and there certainly does exist a divide in the solidarity economy between those who merely see the commercial opportunities as a survival strategy and those who have a more ideological commitment to the cause. Mara explains that the Complexo do Alem\u00e3o solidarity economy network she established is down to the 13 most committed EESs because many of those who initially sought to participate were only interested in selling goods. Mara explains that “those\u00a0goods often came from China; we know they are made with slave labor, and that is not what the solidarity economy is about.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mara<\/p>\n

Solidarity economy and quality of life<\/h3>\n

Clarice sees the most important victory of the solidarity economy in Brazil as the “social organization of work.” Essentially, solidarity economy efforts aim to address both labor market gaps and\u00a0broader societal deficiencies. This happens through two main mechanisms:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. EESs can meet a need for income generation where labor market exclusion\u2014via both educational disparities and spatial discrimination\u2014is strong.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. EESs can provide supportive workspaces that meet a need for social interaction that addresses trauma related to poverty and violence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Addressing market exclusion<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    As of the first trimester of\u00a02016, Brazilian <\/span>unemployment jumped to\u00a010.2%<\/span><\/a>. There aren’t enough\u00a0good jobs in the country, and furthermore, with <\/span>only 40% of favela residents obtaining a high school education or higher<\/span><\/a>, many do not have the schooling necessary to get the quality jobs that do exist.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Beyond skills and opportunity mismatches, many favela residents face employment discrimination because of their address. This is sometimes called \u201cspatial discrimination.\u201d Clarice from Devas points out that many applications are thrown out when an applicant lists a Complexo da Mar\u00e9 address, to the point that Mar\u00e9 residents often\u00a0list nearby neighborhood\u00a0Bonsuccesso on applications instead.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Researcher Janice Perlman<\/a> comprehensively summarized favela employment dynamics in a <\/span>2005 study<\/span><\/a> that revisited initial survey data from 1969. Favela residents surveyed viewed a \u201cgood job with a good salary\u201d (or \u201cdecent work with decent pay\u201d in the informal sector) as the \u201csingle most important factor for a successful life\u201d\u2014over good health<\/a>, education<\/a>, housing<\/a>, land tenure<\/a>,\u00a0governance<\/a>, and personal security<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Perlman then highlights the primary barriers to sought-after livelihoods. These barriers include:<\/span><\/p>\n