Women's empowerment in fair trade coffee co-operatives in Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

This study explores the influence of Fair Trade on the empowerment of women co-operative members by examining a primary and a secondary level producer organisation in Oaxaca, Mexico. The data collection techniques included observation, participant observation, focus groups, and semi-standardised and informal interviews. The Women's Empowerment Framework (WEF) provided the analytic tools to assess to what extent a development intervention, such as a Fair Trade co-operative, is empowering for women by measuring levels of gender equality and levels of recognition of gender issues. Grounded categories were also used in the analysis. The findings of this study were that Fair Trade has an indirect impact on women's empowerment. Separate women's groups, key individuals, and 'conscientisation' campaigns were found to be important factors in achieving women's empowerment.