Characterization of Rural Women as a Protagonist in the Socioeconomic Development of Fusagasugá and Silvania, Colombia

The participation of rural women in Colombia has had a long and anonymous trajectory. Such participation has been limited to roles exclusive to the domestic environment: raising children, tidying up the house, preparing food and farming. Their responsibilities were carried out within a patriarchal society, without social or economic recognition, sacrificing their personal aspirations. Objective: to characterize socioeconomically the rural women in Fusagasugá and Silvania, agricultural food growing areas of the province of Sumapaz, Cundinamarca. A descriptive-analytical research with a qualitative-quantitative approach was conducted. A probabilistic sample was applied to 144 participants. The household of the rural woman of Fusagasugá is composed of her spouse and children 58%, the mainly engaged in unpaid household chores and agricultural and livestock activities. The Silvanenses of free union marital status and single mother head of households representing 52%, develop productive work standing out as entrepreneurs and businesswomen; 84% have businesses. The relevant role played by rural women in contributing to food security, growth and sustainable development is highlighted.