Social economy and equal oportunities in rural areas. An analysis applied to autonomous region of Castilla and Leon

Abstract

Socioeconomic inequalities based on sex are higher in rural areas than in other type of areas more populated. However, women are considered as a priority group of people to turn on the economy of rural areas, as it is well recognized in all the policies applied to those territories in favour of their social and economic development. Taking this consideration into account, it is possible to find out a close relationship between the goals pursued by the policies of equal opportunity, on one hand, and the values and principles advocated by the social economy organizations, on the other. The aim of this paper is to analyze the labour participation and current situation of women who are engaged in the firms of the social economy sector within the rural areas of Castilla and Leon, as a particular type of organizations which generates employment for this group of people considering the principles of cooperation, solidarity and equity.