Empreendedorismo feminino e políticas públicas em Curitiba: avanços, desafios e caminhos para a o desenvolvimento sustentável

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes female entrepreneurship in Curitiba, with emphasis on public policies that promote entrepreneurship, the trajectories of women entrepreneurs, and the implications for sustainable development from a territorial perspective. The objective is to analyze the influence of municipal public policies and support organizations on the trajectories of women entrepreneurs in Curitiba. The investigation is based on the understanding of female entrepreneurship as a social and economic phenomenon permeated by structural inequalities related to gender, race, class, and territory, which require public policies capable of articulating instruments for economic promotion, social protection, and symbolic recognition. From a methodological perspective, this research adopts a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory approach, based on documentary analysis of municipal policies and programs, literature review, and the collection of secondary data regarding the profile of women entrepreneurs in Curitiba. Legal frameworks, institutional reports, and promotional materials produced by the Municipality of Curitiba and Sebrae-PR were examined, as well as official statistics related to the Individual Microentrepreneur (MEI) and the participation of women in both formal and informal entrepreneurship. The analysis is structured around three central categories: public policies for the promotion and/or support of female entrepreneurship, female entrepreneurship itself, and sustainable development, with emphasis on productive inclusion. In this study, productive inclusion is understood as the insertion of women in situations of vulnerability into income-generating activities, also considering the territorial inequalities present in the city. Among the main findings, Curitiba stands out for its high participation of women among Individual Microentrepreneurs (MEIs) and for the strong presence of programs supporting female entrepreneurship, which have contributed to increasing the visibility of women-led businesses, expanding training opportunities, and facilitating access to support networks. However, significant inequalities persist regarding access to credit, business formalization, and the economic sustainability of enterprises, particularly among Black women, women living in peripheral areas, and informal workers. The policies analyzed still tend to treat women as a homogeneous group, with limited consideration of race and territorial dimensions, as well as incipient mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation. The research indicates that, for female entrepreneurship to function as a driver of sustainable development and productive inclusion, it is necessary to articulate economic promotion policies with broader public policies related to care, urban infrastructure, safety, mobility, and the reduction of intersectional inequalities across different territories of Curitiba.