Female representation
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2025 4:42 am
The female presence in politics has gained space in discussions on the topic, and has also been more valued. Mainly, in a context in which diversity and inclusion , as well as the concept of representation, are increasingly latent in our society.
It is important to highlight that the presence of women in Congress is not only a question of representation, but also of the quality of democracy. Women have specific agendas and demands that need to be discussed and met, and their presence in politics is essential for these issues to be debated and resolved .
One of the major milestones in women's rights in public policy is the creation of Law 11.340/02, better known as the Maria da Penha Law. The bill was enacted on August 7, 2006, and created mechanisms to prevent and curb domestic and family violence against women.
Since then, the law has been updated to bring it into line with usa mobile database women's needs . The legislation is now suitable, for example, for punishing online criminal practices - crimes that were not common at the time the law was passed.
The Maria da Penha Law is one of the most popular in the country, and also one of the most comprehensive when it comes to public policies aimed at women. It managed to align standards and mechanisms involving health, security and justice, in addition to the involvement of state, municipal and federal governments.
Female diversity
But not all women’s needs are addressed by a single law. Politics is a field where minority voices are often underrepresented, including trans women and women of color, who have faced discrimination and prejudice for centuries. They are often marginalized and ignored by society, including by government decision-makers.
In the Senate, for example, there are no black women in the current legislature. In the Chamber of Deputies, black women represent only 1% of parliamentarians . This scenario shows how racism makes it even more difficult for this group to position themselves, despite the fact that 27% of the country's female population identifies as black, according to a survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
According to Joyce Souza, coordinator of the Pretas no Poder project, analyzing demographic data does not reveal the possibility of representation, and the impact suffered is the increase in structural racism . Thus, even if some discussions advance, the policies end up not reaching black and peripheral women.
And, in the fight for rights and representation, those who arrived to make history in Brazilian politics were the deputies Erika Hilton (PSOL-RJ) and Duda Salabert (PDT-MG). They are the first trans women to hold positions in Congress.
It is important to highlight that the presence of women in Congress is not only a question of representation, but also of the quality of democracy. Women have specific agendas and demands that need to be discussed and met, and their presence in politics is essential for these issues to be debated and resolved .
One of the major milestones in women's rights in public policy is the creation of Law 11.340/02, better known as the Maria da Penha Law. The bill was enacted on August 7, 2006, and created mechanisms to prevent and curb domestic and family violence against women.
Since then, the law has been updated to bring it into line with usa mobile database women's needs . The legislation is now suitable, for example, for punishing online criminal practices - crimes that were not common at the time the law was passed.
The Maria da Penha Law is one of the most popular in the country, and also one of the most comprehensive when it comes to public policies aimed at women. It managed to align standards and mechanisms involving health, security and justice, in addition to the involvement of state, municipal and federal governments.
Female diversity
But not all women’s needs are addressed by a single law. Politics is a field where minority voices are often underrepresented, including trans women and women of color, who have faced discrimination and prejudice for centuries. They are often marginalized and ignored by society, including by government decision-makers.
In the Senate, for example, there are no black women in the current legislature. In the Chamber of Deputies, black women represent only 1% of parliamentarians . This scenario shows how racism makes it even more difficult for this group to position themselves, despite the fact that 27% of the country's female population identifies as black, according to a survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
According to Joyce Souza, coordinator of the Pretas no Poder project, analyzing demographic data does not reveal the possibility of representation, and the impact suffered is the increase in structural racism . Thus, even if some discussions advance, the policies end up not reaching black and peripheral women.
And, in the fight for rights and representation, those who arrived to make history in Brazilian politics were the deputies Erika Hilton (PSOL-RJ) and Duda Salabert (PDT-MG). They are the first trans women to hold positions in Congress.