Gender, political representation and processes for prohibition of women in Brazil

Abstract

The underrepresentation of women in elected positions points to an unconsolidated democracy. The 17% female representation in the Federal Chamber portrays the Brazilian State's difficulties in raising the levels of female presence, even considering the quota policy. Such difficulties are explained by the patriarchal culture that pervades social organizations and political institutions, including parties and unions. When comparing Brazil with other nations on the same continent, it is observed that countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, and Costa Rica have reached similar levels to those in Europe. The recent coup that removed Dilma Rousseff from the president of the country shows that in Brazil, conservatism, patriarchy, and misogyny have been renewed in political relations, supported by the media, the judiciary sectors, and the fundamentalist benches in Congress. A fact that has contributed to intensifying further also gender and class inequalities. This text presents reflections constructed based on studies and research developed in the last two decades (2010, 2015, 2019), enriched by dialogues with several authors who denote that patriarchal culture has been one of the factors that most affect political violence that prohibits women from having a more effective presence in spaces of power and decision-making. The electoral results presented denote this assertion that is affirmed in the devaluation of women and male superiority.