Les Cahiers du GRIF - Année 1994 - Volume 48 - Numéro 1 - Pages 131-140Rural women, Europe and the Future This work centres on the Portuguese case. Isabel Rodrigo' s main objective is to analyse the possibility of consolidating a new social profile for women in rural areas in the context of the transformations caused by the process of European integration. After a short reference to the main changes which have taken place in the social framework underlying Portuguese agriculture, we consider - on the basis of a study of individual decision-making - the refusal of younger women to reproduce the traditional female profile which dominates rural society. A professional identity which young women want to uphold and have recognized socially is at the origin of this refusal. The second part of the paper concentrates on the recent evolution of labour markets employing a largely female work-force, against the backdrop of the process of European integration. After defining the general framework of the future outlook of employment for women, we analyse the possibilities and means of (re)insertion of the female population in agricultural activities and the operational dynamics of rural social areas. 10 pages Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.