This study aims to analyze the work and collective organization of women who process crabs, inside the Caeté-Taperaçu Marine Extractive Reserve, in Bragança municipality, coast of Pará State, Northern Brazil. It contri-butes to the debate on the centrality of the gender dimension within the socio-environmental development. According to the theoretical fra-mework, in this development approach, economy is embedded in society, the territorial rights of traditional peoples are guaranteed and gender equi-ty is a crucial feature, namely, the parity of participation of men and wo-men in social life. Following a qualitative methodology, observations and semi-structured interviews were carried out with 30 women in the communities of Treme, Taquandeua, Rio Grande and Vila Bonifácio, and in-depth interviews with local leaders, in order to: 1) understanding the history and the structure of crabs processing and its production chain, the women occupational trajectory, the sexual division and the conditions of labor and insertion in the market; 2) analyzing the recently created
Network “Rede de Mulheres Caeteuaras”. This association wants to gene-rate income and to value the women processors as fish workers; it embra-ces ideals of gender equity and environmental conservation. The hypothe-sis of the study is that the organization of women in the Network, al-though recent, points to two directions of change: it fosters the visibility and appreciation of women's work in the fishing production chain and it enhances the socioenvironmental development of the RESEX territory. The research revealed different social forms of domestic crabs processing: the family units, the processors working for a boss and those who acquire the raw material from outside traders, process and sell. The women remain in a subordinate position, as they do not control the product, prices and demand for their work. In this scenario, the Women's Network intends to operate in an innovative way. The results show that the women participa-ting in the network become more aware of their professional
status, through courses and trainings, but yet they haven’t been able to alter prevailing labor and commercialization practices. It is necessary to expand the web of partners and the social and material resources. Their projects, however, point to new market guidelines, partially confirming the research hypothesis. The community kitchen plans to associate better quality of their product, occupational health and facilities for young mothers caring for their children and reconciling work and care. The study ratifies the importance of women's organizations for sócio environmental development and they might gain the support of RESEX associations and relevant public authorities. Women crabs processsors live and participate in the Market facing structural blockages, where gender, class and cultural barriers intersect
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