Work and unemployment: women in the Region of Vale dos Sinos

Abstract

Brazil has registered, in the last few years, high rates of unemployment, whose effects strongly reflect in the society. In this scenario, according to data from IBGE, women are one of the most vulnerable groups. Therefore, this article seeks to identify the characteristics of the experience of unemployed women in the region of Vale dos Sinos – state of RS, south of Brazil. It is an observational survey research, with non-probabilistic sample. A bio-sociodemographic questionnaire was used as instrument. Participated in this research 125 women in unemployment situation, with median age of 37 years old. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and showed that: the reason 50,4% of the interviewees are looking for a job is the reduction of staff in the previous job; 48% of the participants survive with the assistance of their families; 36% declared that unemployment was a result of health issues; 58,4% considered their level of quality of life as low, and 11 months was the average time taken in search for employment. We believe that unemployment has affected these women’s welfare and that the involuntary situation of non-work has to do with social suffering, that is to say, being unemployed might mean not just only economic frailty, but also physical, social and mental vulnerability. We highlight the urgent need for investment in employment / income generation policies, with a focus on women, in the Vale do Rio dos Sinos’ region.