Empowerment of rural women in emerging organizational processes: the case of a coffee cooperative in Guatemala

Abstract

This article analyzes the empowerment of rural women in the context of the creation of a coffee cooperative in northwestern Guatemala. Starting from the recognition of structural gender inequalities in the agricultural sector, the study focuses on the challenges and opportunities faced by women as they engage in an emerging organizational structure. Using a qualitative and participatory approach, the research seeks to understand how evolving organizational dynamics influence women’s autonomy, personal and social development, and socio-economic integration; to analyze the extent to which participation in the cooperative contributes to building decision-making capacities and strengthening collective cohesion and power; and to identify the factors that enable or hinder these processes in a context shaped by cultural, economic, and environmental barriers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and participatory workshops conducted at different moments within the cooperative’s initial phase of development. The findings reveal progress in self-esteem, sense of belonging, and community participation, alongside persistent limitations in access to productive resources and decision-making spaces. The study shows that even within emerging organizational processes, it is possible to create favorable conditions for strengthening mutual recognition, active participation, and the progressive development of collective capacities.