PRINCIPLES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL WOMEN'S INFORMATION LITERACY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF EMPOWERMENT

ABSTRACT

This article aims to present principles for developing rural women's information literacy from a feminist perspective of empowerment. Empirical data were collected through ten in-depth interviews, of a qualitative and semi-structured nature, conducted with rural women engaged in the Peasant Women's Movement (MMC) in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Thematic analysis of the data was performed using the content analysis technique. As a result, principles are proposed for the elaboration of strategies, actions and programs of information literacy under four main aspects: teaching and learning techniques appropriate to rural women; physical conditions of the environment; theoretical-practical approach; and, national and international guidelines for building programs. We conclude that information literacy contributes to minimizing some vulnerabilities to which rural women are exposed by contributing to the individual and collective empowerment process, and by qualifying the action of these women as agents of change. We emphasize the need for governments to create monitoring indicators and public policies for the development of information literacy.

Keywords:
information literacy; empowerment; rural women; Peasant Women's Movement (MMC)