Participación sociocultural de la mujer en actividades productivas de paja toquilla en la Comuna Barcelona, península de Santa Elena

Abstract

Throughout history, women have faced limitations and barriers that have prevented their participation in different spheres of society from being visible, that is, historically women are invisible and relegated to the background, preventing them from transcending their condition as mother, wife and housewife in general, the empowerment of women means achieving individual autonomy, being a challenge to patriarchal conviction, with the purpose of changing the structures that reinforce social inequality and gender distinction. Ancestry is one of the important factors because it includes a set of values of a community that are consolidated over time. In the province of Santa Elena, Barcelona commune, the weaving of toquilla straw is part of the symbolic and social identity, constituting itself as a family integrating element that intertwines its traditions, the artisan women weavers of toquilla straw are the example that sustains this tradition, they are those who act as managers of change and referents of generational transmission. However, currently there are few families that are dedicated to this activity, thus losing the cultural value. In this framework, the research that seeks to determine the contribution to sociocultural development, the participation of women in the elaboration of Toquilla straw crafts is developed, in terms of the methodology used, the mixed methodological approach was applied, given that, the quantitative include closed information, is of direct participation, collects data and perspectives from the point of view of the participants. On the other hand, the qualitative is open information that is collected through observations, this is not based on previous bibliographic studies, but is generated from the empirical information obtained and analyzed of the phenomenon. On the other hand, as for the technique used in the theoretical research, it was based on the bibliographic review of scientific journals, regarding field research, the survey was used as a technique and the observation sheet was applied to 97 artisans belonging to the Barcelona commune. According to the surveys and observation sheet made to the members of the different associations it was possible to show that, the commune is characterized by its productive activities, the people of the sector are dedicated to the whole process that involves the toquilla straw, however, the crafts do not generate stable income to support the needs of their families in addition, there is a social development however, future generations are not interested in the elaboration of handicrafts since they look for other alternatives or go out to the city. Consequent to the analysis of this research, an intervention proposal was designed focused on a Development Plan for the promotion and reassessment of the role of women in the activity of box straw weaving in the Barcelona commune because in the results of the surveys they determine that one of the needs in the community is the implementation that contributes to the improvement of social conditions, cultural and economic.