One of the projects of PELLERVO Confederation of Finnish Cooperatives was the Gender Equality -project called Hedvig. The aim of the project was to encourage more women to partici-pate in the management and leadership of cooperatives. The project was active in 2000-2002.
Cooperatives are business organisations. However, they are more than that because they share a distinct ethical foundation. Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. Cooperative members believe in the ethical values: honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others. These qualities are remarkable strengths. Unfortunately, these strengths are gravely under-utilised in cooperatives as a counter-force to the negative effects of global competition.
Along with the globalisation of the economy and the often negative effects of market forces on peo-ple and communities, the interest in the cooperative form of enterprise has increased. Cooperatives with their inherent characteristic of responsibility for their members and the community offers a viable alternative to liberal capitalism. Multinational corporations´ main goal is maximum profit. In contrast, for cooperatives the diversity of views among their members is an asset. For this reason, the Hedvig-project encourages cooperatives to make full use of this valuable resource. It is an ele-ment of success. In today's world of growing international competition, companies with an ethical balance sheet and report, have a decisive advantage to many competitors.
Research shows that women are more interested in ethical values than men. However, women are an under-utilised resource both in cooperatives and in other businesses. The International Co-operative Alliance ICA has declared that it is time for action NOW. Cooperatives should have women in their management and leadership. Women who are committed to their business and its values, and who trust their ethical intuition when deciding what is best. And women must not hesi-tate to speak out and defend what they stand for. The importance of mutual encouragement among women cannot be overemphasised: women must support one another in the project of nurturing life so that also future generations can enjoy the diversity and beauty of the world.
Women as consumers are key decision-makers and thus have an enormous power to influence businesses. The interaction of rational aspects of business and ethical values will bring results that are both commercially profitable and ethically sustainable.
PELLERVO
HEDVIG Gender Equality -project
The project was named itself after Hedvig Gebhard, one of the first women MPs, and an outstanding leader in the history of Finland's cooperatives. She repeatedly emphasised the importance of cooperative values and the role of women in making them real.
Summary of Speeches in Seminar on Women,
Cooperatives and Peace