Programa de microcrédito Empreenda Mulher do estado de São Paulo: uma avaliação a partir das beneficiadas

Abstract

Gender inequality is a longstanding issue that continues to impact society to this day. One of its consequences is the imbalance in the world of work, placing women in an unjust position in an unfair race. The outcomes of this include poverty, unemployment, and the lack of women in decision-making positions. In this discouraging context, the microcredit program aims to contribute to work and income through productive loans, with specific conditions for those who need it most. This dissertation aimed to evaluate the performance of the *Empreenda Mulher* microcredit program in the city of São Paulo from the perspective of Black and peripheral women who benefited from it, highlighting the gender and race dynamics that permeate this public policy. Microcredit originated in Asia, specifically in Bangladesh, through small loans that did not require the same conditions as conventional banks. The initiative grew in Brazil in the 1980s through NGOs and cooperatives, in a context of advancing neoliberal policies marked by high inflation, low economic growth, and loss of consumer purchasing power. While much is still to be discussed, microcredit is evolving as a policy for work and income. This dissertation focuses on evaluating the contribution of microcredit, specifically the *Empreenda Mulher* program, in the development of the women who benefit from it and its impact. The research began with documentary analysis, studying the regulations and documents related to the program, such as website publications, official documents, and terms, to understand the formal construction of the policy. Data collection then included on-site observations and semi-structured interviews with members of the *Banco do Povo* and the women who benefited, aiming to understand their life stories. The data were analyzed using the criteria of Discourse Analysis (DA) along with practices from Critical Discourse Analysis, exploring speech acts, informal conversations with a pragmatic criterion, repertoire, rhetoric, and polarities. In my evaluative process, I used the Sustainability-Based Evaluation (SBE) developed by Chacon (2007) and updated by Chacon and Nascimento (2020), seeking to understand the policy through the lens of sustainability, considering the economic,institutional-political, and social dimensions. The theoretical framework covered the following themes: Gender Inequality, Feminisms, Brazilian Black Women, and, from there, public policies, especially microcredit, which is the subject of the study. The urgency of public policies that promote women's inclusion in the labor market to foster their autonomy and development was emphasized. In conclusion, regarding the institutional-political dimension, the goal set for the program by its formulators was achieved, as the targeted communication, longer deadlines, and a line dedicated to women were able to increase their participation in the world of small businesses. In the economic dimension, the program significantly altered the professional trajectories of women, increasing their income. Finally, the greatest benefit occurred in the social dimension, as increased self-confidence, self-awareness, autonomy, and growth in social opportunities were observed among the interviewed women. Understanding their life stories was essential to grasp the urgency of formulating public policies that align with the reality of their final recipients to maximize their impact. The findings of this research may contribute to strengthening the *Empreenda Mulher* program by incorporating the women's point of view and providing an external analysis, apart from the perspective of those directly involved with the public policy. For the impacted women, this work may bring more confidence to their actions, as they will know they are not alone and that their opinions are relevant and central.