Mariana Rogoski Ferreira Bernz is a Brazilian researcher and professional in Administration, currently pursuing a PhD in Administration at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR). She holds a Master’s degree in Administration, with research focused on microcredit and the socioeconomic mobility of women microentrepreneurs in situations of social vulnerability. Her academic interests include poverty economics, solidarity economy, women’s entrepreneurship, women in leadership, people development, and ESG. She has professional experience in leadership development, human resources, institutional identity, education, and social-impact initiatives. She also contributes to research and projects focused on women’s empowerment, solidarity, and sustainable social development.

FROM SCARCITY TO COLLECTIVE ACTION: COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AMONG WOMEN IN SITUATIONS OF SOCIOECONOMIC VULNERABILITY IN THE PERIPHERY OF CURITIBA

ABSTRACT: This research presents an excerpt from a qualitative study conducted with women experiencing socioeconomic vulnerability in the Curitiba region, Paraná, Brazil. Based on the understanding that women are disproportionately affected by poverty, reflecting an increasing process of the feminization of poverty, the study highlights the emergence of collective arrangements grounded in the principles of collaboration as a strategy for addressing their vulnerabilities. The aim of this study is to identify the collaborative arrangements existing among women living in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability. To this end, a qualitative study was conducted using content analysis (Bardin, 2016) of data obtained through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted with the support of the photo-elicitation methodology (Harper, 2002). It is important to emphasize that this study constitutes an analytical excerpt from a broader research project presented as a master's dissertation. The present paper focuses on one of the research axes of that study, namely collaborative practices. The care economy indicates that inequality in the labor market leads women to occupy lower-paid jobs with fewer opportunities for advancement, while the burden of domestic and care responsibilities limits their time and opportunities for economic participation (Chant, 2007). The Gender Equality Observatory of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC, n.d.) indicates that in Latin America, the feminization of poverty index for the population aged 20 to 59 is 121.3, while in Brazil it is 129.4. A value above 100 indicates that poverty (or extreme poverty) affects women to a greater extent than men. In vulnerable territories, in addition to the burden resulting from the care economy, women also encounter contexts of structural violence, territorial conflicts, and feelings of social exclusion. Despite this scenario, they occupy a prominent and protagonistic position in social transformation within the communities where they are embedded. Their contributions encompass a broad range of areas, from community mobilization to political leadership, as well as family care and activism for women's rights (Veillette, 2022). The present research was conducted in an irregular settlement where approximately five hundred families live. Seven women who work as informal microentrepreneurs were interviewed about their daily lives. After categorization, 38 codes related to 'Collective Thinking' were identified. These interviews gave rise to narratives expressing a broader understanding of development. Many women are protagonists of solidarity networks, coordinate community projects, participate in associations, or form small productive groups (Bernz, 2025, p. 78). From the scarcity of resources – financial resources, time, school places, food, and work – emerges a conscious understanding of the importance of the collective and of mutual collaboration among these women living in peripheral areas. Community development is also evident in care for others: there is a sense of belonging and mutual responsibility (Bernz, 2025, p. 78). This collective thinking resulted in the creation of a community space for children, managed by the women themselves, who take turns providing care and freely supporting one another.

KEYWORDS: Feminization of poverty; Collaborative arrangements; Community development.