Informação e liberdade: o rádio mulher e a promoção do desenvolvimento na Zona da Mata Sul de Pernambuco

Abstract

This paper examines the importance of radio as a medium to promote development in the rural area. This study is presented following a non-linear structure: the development, end of the process studied, leads to a trail that will reach to the Rádio Mulher, initial part of the process. In this way, studies of freedom, communication, information, radio and gender issues are present in order to guide the discourse and build understanding. Most research aimed at examining the communication rural spends much of its efforts to examine the impact that the media has on their audience. In addition to this proposal, this paper focuses on the importance of such impacts and their role to promote rural development. For this, the present paper examines the case of Rádio Mulher program, broadcast daily on Rádio Farol FM, located in the town of Catende in the Zona da Mata Sul de Pernambuco, Brazil. A qualitative research with exploratory analysis was performed whit focusing on identifying the contribution of the program on the expansion of the substancial freedom of rural women and their transformation in to change promoters. Five women envolved in production of Rádio Mulher at Cabo de Santo Agostinho and Catende were interviewed. The broadcast of the program was also followed. Although the Rádio Mulher is an important communication tool for the voices of all women in the region, the program comes as a vindication of freedom, in particular for rural women, in reference to the search for better quality of life, citizenship, political participation, sexual and reproductive rights and health.