Colhendo esperança: igualdade de gênero e agricultura urbana na luta contra a fome e a pobreza

Abstract

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that every individual has the right to life, liberty and personal security, and this is an inalienable right. However, this is still not a reality for a large portion of the population, who does not even have adequate food in sufficient quantities to survive, and many die of hunger. Meanwhile, a much smaller percentage of people has much more than what is necessary for their survival. Inequality in access to fundamental rights is intrinsically linked to historical processes such as colonialism and climate phenomena associated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The confluence of these two elements was decisive in establishing structures of poverty, misery and inequalities that persist today. In this context, women and girls have historically been the most vulnerable populations and those who suffer the most from the impacts generated by the profound social and economic inequalities that shape societies around the world. This thesis is inserted in this scenario, investigating how urban agriculture can be a tool to address these inequalities, especially in the context of food security, gender equality and women's empowerment, in dialogue with Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2 and 5. Thus, from a critical perspective, this thesis aims to analyze the influence of urban vegetable gardens in promoting food security and gender equality among women participating in the Citizen Territory Program of the Municipality of Cascavel - Pr. Therefore, an applied research was chosen, with a qualitative approach, using as data collection methods the bibliographic review, the semi-structured interview conducted with the program manager, the in-depth interview with women participating in the urban vegetable gardens and personal observation. The data collected were analyzed based on the Content Analysis proposed by Bardin (2016) and indicate that, for the studied public, the cultivation of food in urban vegetable gardens contributed to improving the quality of life of the participating women. These results show that urban agriculture can be an effective strategy to help fight poverty, misery, food and nutritional insecurity, and gender inequality, while promoting female empowerment, social inclusion, and sustainability in the communities where it is implemented. However, these initiatives must be accompanied by integrated public policies that recognize historically constructed gender inequalities and promote actions aimed at the emancipation, autonomy, and empowerment of women in order to transform the structures of social, economic, and environmental relations, promoting equity and justice. Therefore, the garden is not only a space for production, but also becomes a fertile ground for women to strengthen their voices, recognize their potential and acquire tools to transform their realities. The collective practice of cultivation and the organization of activities in these spaces transcend material functionality and become emancipatory and transformative practices, consolidating themselves as a concrete expression of resistance, belonging and the construction of new possibilities in life.