Social Entrepreneurship and Empowerment of Rural Women: Artemali Case

Abstract

In the municipality of Tepatlaxco de Hidalgo, a federative entity of Puebla, in the country of Mexico, 30 rural women started the business of manufacturing and marketing handicrafts with the pine leaf, called “ocoxal”, with a sustainability perspective, to improve the quality of life of their families motivated by economic deprivation. This research was of qualitative type, applying inductive methods and convenience sampling, documentary techniques and panel interviews in situ, worksheets and an interview guide. Six women from the municipality of Tepatlaxco were interviewed, who are part of the management of the Artemali company. The data obtained were analyzed based on two variables: social entrepreneurship and empowerment of rural women. In this first part of the research, three categories were used: own business, learning and sustainability. The results of the interviewees showed that the business is profitable, which has allowed some aspects of the quality of life of their families to improve. It is also sustainable because they limit the amount of ocoxal to be collected from the forest, carry out cleaning campaigns of the forest, participate in breast cancer prevention campaigns and give courses to children to take care of the forest. In addition, they have entered commercially in Europe, in fairs that promote the sale of handicrafts several countries.