The Struggle for Land and Feminism Among Rural Women in Colombia

Rural women in Colombia play a crucial yet underrecognized role in agriculture, with only 26% owning the land they work. They advocate for peasant and popular feminism through organizations like Fensuagro, focusing on food sovereignty and challenging patriarchal oppression. Their efforts include promoting land restitution and building community networks, demonstrating that their struggle is essential for broader social and economic transformation.

In Colombia, rural women have emerged as pivotal figures in the fight for agricultural and social justice, with only 26% owning the land they cultivate. Through the National Unitary Agricultural Trade Union Federation (Fensuagro) and other organizations, they champion peasant and popular feminism, rooting their activism in solidarity and collective struggle. Their essential role in food production is crucial not only to the communities they serve but also in preserving cultural heritage and biodiversity.

Rural women contribute to nearly 50% of food production while safeguarding native seeds and ancestral knowledge. This involvement underpins food sovereignty, which encompasses their right to decide agricultural practices and resist agribusiness models that displace rural populations, particularly women. Fensuagro emphasizes the intersectionality of their struggle: “Peasant and popular feminism is women’s struggle for land, for water, for the right to live with dignity.”

Central to their activism is a response to systemic oppression, addressing machismo, land dispossession, and violence from state and paramilitary actors. Their conviction lies in achieving structural changes with a focus on social justice and gender equity. Despite making up 40% of the agricultural workforce, women’s limited access to land remains a significant barrier to autonomy.

From the Cauca Mountains to the Amazon, rural organizations advocate for land restitution and establish peasant markets, while nurturing collective care networks that confront patriarchal norms regarding labor. Their struggle transcends individual recognition, aiming for wider agrarian, social, and economic transformation. As La Vía Campesina observes, “With feminism, there is food sovereignty.” Through each action and initiative, rural women in Colombia strive to ensure a feminist future for their communities, reflecting a deep commitment to collective well-being and justice.

In conclusion, rural women in Colombia represent a vital force for change, despite facing significant challenges such as limited land ownership and systemic oppression. Through their collective efforts and advocacy, they not only uphold food sovereignty but also challenge unequal socio-economic structures. Their commitment to peasant and popular feminism highlights the importance of social justice and gender equity, ensuring that the future of the Colombian countryside embraces inclusivity and resilience.

Original Source: viacampesina.org