The fight for gender equality started not so long ago. In ancient times, the traditions of Jewish society did not allow women to sit at the table with men during meals.

In many cultures, motherhood was devalued when a girl was born. Winning a place at the dinner table, recognition in the family and in many other places was achieved only after many years of struggle.

In politics it was no different. During the reign of Getúlio Vargas, Brazil experienced a historic change in women’s wrestling: the conquest of the right to vote. Despite the fact that women were part of society, their rights to the position of citizens were granted only in 1932. This year, for the first time, Brazilian women could vote and be elected.

Performance

However, even after nine decades, the level of representation of women in this environment is still low. And Santa Catarina follows the national rhythm.

A survey conducted by NDI (Nucleo de Dados e Jornalismo Investigativo) Grupo ND examined the records of the last 8 legislatures and revealed the names of 46 senators and their deputies in the Senate. The analysis began in the 49th Legislative Assembly in 1991 until the 56th Legislative Assembly in 2019.

Of this total, only five women held positions in the Senate, of which four served as deputies, and only one was elected senator, Ideli Salvatti (PT).

This equates to a 10 percent percentage of women elected compared to the total number of senators elected to the legislature from 1991 to 2019.

Even less so when it comes to vice-governors. The analysis confirmed all legislatures from the period of redemocratization that began in 1987 to the present.

Seven governors were appointed, excluding re-election, and eight lieutenant governors. Of these, only one woman was elected, the current Deputy Governor, Daniela Reiner (LP).

These are the traces left by the historical exclusion of women from society, which is reflected in various fields, including politics, as anthropologist Miriam Pillar explains: “The electoral political system, as it is designed, has a historical origin. Since ancient Greece, the idea of ​​democracy has excluded women. In the Western world, we will only have a voice in the 20th century, very recently.”

Laws and achievements for equal participation

To change this reality, which has persisted for centuries, gender quotas have appeared in elections. The Electoral Law (9.504/1997) established that each party must have at least 30% of female candidates.

The obligation was established to ensure equal participation: “This percentage is mandatory. If this legal definition is not observed, the registration of the candidate will not be approved. The percentage must also be met to pay for the costs and sponsorship of these campaigns,” explains Sandra Granemann, lawyer and member of the OAB/SC Electoral Law Commission.

If the path to the space of power is a rocky one, then gaining respect in elections, unfortunately, also requires a lot of struggle: “They have to face political violence, and this is very serious,” Miriam comments.

To combat political violence against women, Law No. 14,192 was passed in August 2021. Sandra explains that since it was approved within a short period of time, there are still no conclusions on the number of convictions.

But the lawyer believes that with the development of the system and technology, there will soon be sentences. “When it comes to violence against women, the article is very broad. This opens up a range of behaviors that can be seen as violence. He says: any action, behavior or inaction with the intent to hinder, hinder or restrict rights counts. Or, nevertheless, the distinction, exclusion or limitation of the recognition of the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Social and Political Issues Contribute to Underrepresentation

In Latin America, there are examples of the democratic advancement of women in politics. In Argentina, women’s representation has increased thanks to such names as Susana Malcorra, Patricia Bullrich, Maria Eugenia Vidal, Gabriela Michetti. And now Cristina Kirchner, Vice President of Argentina. In Colombia, the first black woman was elected vice president Francia Marquez.

In Brazil, the scenario is different. Since the formation of the republic in 1889, under President Deodoro da Fonseca, power has largely passed into the hands of men.

The country has appointed a single president, Dilma Rousseff (PT), we have not elected a single woman vice president, and we have had 16 governors. Of these, only eight were elected to this post, the rest were lieutenant governors who took office after the incumbent left.

The numbers of excluded countries are not random. “There is a collective, individual and social memory that still reflects the idea that women have no ability,” explains Micheline Ramos, doctor of social anthropology.

Aside from social issues, the current political formation also disadvantages women’s participation, as political scientist and Univali professor Eduardo Guerini explained. “Political parties are still very closed, they are impervious to social movements. But they must also be shaped by transformations. Given the Latin American scenario, Brazil is taking a step back on issues related to women’s participation and diversity.”

Ways to improve range from education to debate

According to data released by the Chamber of Deputies, in Brazil, only 15% of women are in the Chamber, and 12% in the Senate. At the municipal level, 900 municipalities did not even have a councilor elected in the 2020 elections.

Faced with so many negative indicators, it is necessary to rethink effective ways to change this data. The road to change, according to Micheline, is debate. “In order to change this, we need to discuss this issue in an educational way. Of course, primarily in schools, but also in public places with cognitive education.”

Education is a way of combating the prejudices that underlie the problem, as the scholar explains: “In this sense, Brazil is an outdated country. We need to break down prejudice, it’s important for us to continue.”

Awareness is one way to change this reality. Another path pointed out by the anthropologist is to invest in positive action. “We lack investment in public policy, affirmative action and educational action. So that women really have representation in the legitimate government. The state plays a fundamental role in the process of achieving justice.”

A study published by the Inter-Parliamentary Union analyzed the political composition of 192 countries. Brazil is ranked 142nd in terms of women’s representation in the region.

Therefore, the specialist explains that the struggle of women must move forward in order to get more participation in all aspects. “Women need to understand that they can. That they have the ability. For this, it is a continuous work of all and all of us. It is a change carried out by the whole society.”