New Study Highlights Evolving Identity and Needs of Rural Women in Tenerife
A new study supported by the Santa Úrsula and Tenerife councils highlights the evolving professional and social roles of rural women, advocating for improved infrastructure and policy support to address their specific needs.
New research, supported by the Santa Úrsula City Council and funded by the Tenerife Island Council, offers a fresh look at life in Tenerife’s mid-altitude regions—areas where 88% of the land is still classified as rural. Led by researcher Ana María Morales Hernández, alongside Elena P. González Negrín and Elena Vega Cuesta, the study moves past simple statistics to explore how the identity of rural women is evolving beyond traditional farming roles.
The study involved 271 women over the age of 20. Through surveys and discussion groups, researchers examined six key areas, including access to services, mobility, the division of caregiving duties, and the prevalence of gender-based violence.
The findings reveal a clear shift: while agriculture remains a vital part of the region's history and identity, today’s rural women—living in areas like Las Toscas, El Farrobillo, La Vera, and La Corujera—are highly educated and professionally diverse. They are actively challenging the stereotype that rural life is synonymous with isolation or limited opportunity.
The report aims to help shape future public policy by addressing the specific needs identified by the participants. Key recommendations include improving public transport with shuttles or minibuses to better connect remote areas, and upgrading the road network to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility on the region’s steep terrain.
Beyond infrastructure, the study calls for consistent programs focused on digital skills and job training. This is especially important because, despite greater access to education and the workforce, women in these areas still carry the primary burden of caregiving.
Timed to coincide with the International Day of Rural Women on October 15, the initiative seeks to honor the resilience of these women and ensure their voices are heard in local government, helping to create a more equitable future for their communities.