Abstract In this paper we analyze women's participation in illicit cannabis plantations in cities of the Vale do Rio São Francisco, in northeastern Brazil, based on five life histories of women who have engaged in this activity. In these in-depth interviews we explore in deep the objective and subjective elements of the relationship between women, institutions and actors involved in this activity, revealing that even in a predominantly male activity, female participation should be highlighted due to: a) its positive influence on crops' productivity and profitability; b) its relation to the performance of specific activities and; c) the relative protection from police repression and violence, originated by the fact that their activity is not linked to the construction of a criminal career and has certain invisibility.

Resumen Este artículo presenta los resultados de una investigación en que se analizó la participación femenina en los plantíos ilícitos de cannabis en ciudades del Vale do Rio São Francisco, en el nordeste brasileño. Aquí se presentan los relatos de vida de cinco mujeres que estuvieron involucradas en esta actividad. Las entrevistas a profundidad buscan elementos objetivos y subjetivos relativos a las relaciones de las entrevistadas con las instituciones y los actores vinculados con ese ilícito, y revelan que aun en una actividad donde predomina la presencia masculina, la participación femenina merece ser destacada por: a) influir en el aumento de la productividad y rentabilidad de los cultivos; b) su relación con el desempeño de actividades específicas y; c) la relativa protección de la represión policiaca y la violencia, derivada de que su actividad no suele vincularse con la construcción de una carrera criminal y presenta cierta invisibilidad.

Resumo O artigo propõe-se a fazer reflexões com base em dados de pesquisas que analisam a participação feminina nos crimes de drogas em cidades do Submédio e Médio São Francisco, no Nordeste brasileiro. Destacamos a análise do relato de vida de seis mulheres que estiveram envolvidas no comércio ilegal de drogas e no plantio de cannabis sativa. O objetivo é contribuir para a discussão teórica sobre as relações existentes entre a condição de gênero e os mecanismos, as práticas e os atores dos mercados ilícitos de drogas na região, bem como analisar dois aspectos relacionados à gestão dos ilegalismos atrelados às drogas em contextos distintos: a qualidade da participação feminina nas atividades de plantio e de tráfico e os efeitos diferenciados produzidos nessas atividades para as mulheres em cidades do sertão baiano e pernambucano.

Abstract This paper presents some reflections based on data from researches that analyzes the female participation in drug crimes in Valley of the São Francisco River, in northeastern Brazil. It presents the analysis of the life stories of six women who were involved in the illegal drug trade and in planting cannabis sativa. The objective is to contribute to the theoretical discussion about the relationship between the gender condition and the mechanisms, practices and actors of illicit drug markets in the region, as well as to analyze two effects related to the ilegalism management of drug-related in different contexts: quality of female participation in planting and trafficking activities and the differential effects produced in these activities for women in cities in the Sertão region of Bahia and Pernambuco.