The study  presents an analysis and overview of available data on rural women's employment in a number of Latin American countries. The data are based on standardized household surveys, available in ECLAC, to obtain comparable information between countries in the region. The publication also draws on information from various FAO RLC publications on the situation of rural women in selected countries of the region, and population and agricultural census data.

The initial hypothesis of the study was that rural women's remunerated employment would have a positive impact on poverty eradication. The results of the available data showed that in poor rural households, women and men participating in an economic activity are among the most poor and their income is not sufficient to overcome poverty.  In other words, employment alone is not enough - it has to be decent and adequately remunerated employment. The study concludes that policymakers need to rethink their policies, strategies and programmes to promote decent employment for rural women in order to overcome poverty and look for alternatives that go beyond the simple provision of rural employment to women.

The authors hope that this study will contribute  to  the development of policies, strategies and activities  aimed at enhancing decent and equitable employment for rural women.

FAO-ECLAC publication (2009) " El Empleo de las Mujeres Rurales: lo que dicen las cifras"  by Marcela Ballara (FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, RLC/Gender, Equity and Rural Employment Division, ESW) and Soledad Parada ( Agriculture Department, ECLAC)