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(詳細はcooperative ("co-op") is an autonomous association of persons who voluntarily cooperate for their mutual, social, economic, and cultural benefit through a mutually owned and democratically run enterprise.〔(Statement on the Cooperative Identity. ) ''International Cooperative Alliance.''〕 Cooperatives include non-profit community organizations and businesses that are owned and managed by the people who use their services (consumer cooperatives) or by the people who work there (worker cooperatives) and take on a variety of forms, ranging from officially registered cooperatives to loosely organized groups of neighbors, family, and kin networks. Cooperatives are based on values like self-help, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity.〔http://social.un.org/index/Cooperatives/WhatisaCooperative.aspx〕 These values, among other aspects of cooperatives, are particularly useful in empowering women through membership.〔 In statements in advance of International Women's Day in early 2013, President of the International Cooperative Alliance, Dame Pauline Green, said, "Cooperative businesses have done so much to help women onto the ladder of economic activity. With that comes community respect, political legitimacy and influence."〔http://ica.coop/en/media/news/movement-can-give-strong-voice-women〕 Cooperatives allow women who might have been isolated and working individually to band together and create economies of scale as well as increase their own bargaining power in the market.〔 However, despite the supposed democratic structure and the values and benefits shared by cooperative members, particularly women, due to gender norms and other instilled cultural practices, women suffer a disproportionately low representation in cooperative membership around the world. Representation of women through ''active'' membership (showing up to meetings and voting), as well as in leadership and managerial positions is even lower.〔 ==Benefits of cooperatives to women== Rachel MacHenry argues that cooperatives have several common features that are particularly beneficial to women, including "ensuring a fair return on work, support for members, safe working conditions, availability of pooled or purchased raw materials, and access to viable markets."〔MacHenry, R. (2000). "Building on local strategies: Nepalese fair trade textiles." In K. M. Grimes & B. L. Milgram (Eds.). ''Artisans and cooperatives: Developing alternative trade for the global economy'' (p. 25-44). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press., p. 29.〕 Furthermore, she says that they serve as a "crucial link" between Western markets and local kin-based structures in developing countries.〔 In the same collection of essays, Brenda Rosebaum says that a cooperative can go beyond simply providing an income for the poor women members involved or stimulating the larger community in which it is located, cooperatives have "empowered" women, "enhanced their dignity, and greatly improved their quality of life."〔Rosenbaum, B. (2000). ("Of women, hope, and angels: Fair trade and artisan production in a squatter settlement in Guatemala City." ) In K. M. Grimes & B. L. Milgram (Eds.)., ''Artisans and cooperatives: Developing alternative trade for the global economy'' (p. 85-106). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press., p. 102〕 In a study of a Nepalese women's cooperative, Rachel MacHenry found that social barriers among women were broken down due to the inclusion of women of different classes, castes, and ethnicities. Moreover, these women often bonded over common experiences and similar motivations for participation in the cooperative. Other shifts occurred in women's independence, including reports of increased physical mobility, including more confidence walking alone as well as riding public transportation. Women also benefited from an increased self-worth and more confidence in interactions with family members and upper class people. Some women weavers felt that they had gained more bargaining power in the eyes of business people who had previously exploited them; other women claimed that they had gained a larger sense of their value and overall contribution to their own households.〔MacHenry, R. (2000). "Building on local strategies: Nepalese fair trade textiles." In K. M. Grimes & B. L. Milgram (Eds.). Artisans and cooperatives: Developing alternative trade for the global economy (p. 25-44). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press., p. 32-33.〕 Another principal benefits of cooperative work is that it allows women the opportunity to gain a decent wage while still leaving time and freedom for other responsibilities important to them such as caring for children and families.〔Rosenbaum, B. (2000). ("Of women, hope, and angels: Fair trade and artisan production in a squatter settlement in Guatemala City." ) In K. M. Grimes & B. L. Milgram (Eds.)., ''Artisans and cooperatives: Developing alternative trade for the global economy'' (pp. 85–106). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press., p. 102.〕 Furthermore, benefits often trickle down to the children of women engaged in cooperatives. In the case of the cooperative UPAVIM in Guatemala, a strong emphasis was placed on savings for children's education.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Women in cooperatives」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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