Political Gender Violence in Brazil
The practice of political gender violence is constant in Brazil’s power spheres. These practices include name-calling, harassment, disqualification of speeches, and even the murder of women. Unfortunately, women are still unwelcome in public power spaces. Additionally, the media also perpetuates gender-based political violence against female parliamentarians.
According to the Ministry of Women, Family, and Human Rights of Brazil, political gender violence refers to physical, psychological, economic, symbolic, or sexual aggression against women with the aim of restricting or preventing access to public functions and/or inducing them to make decisions against their will. This type of violence undermines democracy and hinders women's participation in parliament and other positions of power.
In October 2001, the Council of Ethics and Parliamentary Decorum was established with the objective of supervising disciplinary procedures and imposing penalties in cases of disrespect for parliamentary decorum in the Chamber of Deputies (PINHO, 2020). Its purpose was also to:
Article 4 of the Code of Ethics and Parliamentary Decorum of the Chamber of Deputies states that the following actions are incompatible with parliamentary decorum: abusing the constitutional prerogatives granted to members of the National Congress; receiving undue advantages while performing parliamentary activities; entering into an agreement that aims to appoint a substitute, with conditions involving financial consideration or acts that violate the ethical or regulatory duties of the deputies; obstructing or manipulating legislative work in order to alter the outcome of deliberations; intentionally withholding or providing false information; and committing serious irregularities in carrying out their mandate or any resulting charges that undermine the dignity of popular representation (PINHO, 2020, p. 5 - free translation).
In this context, it is important to highlight that according to research carried out in the article “Underneath the Rug: Political Gender Violence and the Silence of the Council of Ethics of the Chamber of Deputies”, by Tássia Rabelo de Pinho (2020), the Council of Ethics was never chaired by a female parliamentarian, in addition to having few women in its composition. Thus, in a period of almost 20 years, only 9 of the holders were female and only 12 substitutes were women (PINHO, 2020).
This underrepresentation of women in the Ethics Council resulted in some decisions that failed to consider the political violence experienced by female parliamentarians. For example, representation nº 36 of 2014, classified as political gender violence, requested by the Communist Party of Brazil (PC do B), Workers Party (PT), Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and PSOL, against offenses made by the Deputy Jair Bolsonaro against Deputy Maria do Rosário. The case was ultimately archived, and no action was taken (PINHO, 2020).
Another case is representation number 10 of 2016, which was submitted by the PT against sexist and disrespectful allegations made by Deputy Laerte Bessa against President Dilma. The case was ultimately archived, and in the report prepared by Deputy Mauro Lopes, he claims that:
In addition to the incidents of political gender violence that occurred within the Chamber of Deputies and were archived by the Ethics Council, the media also practices this type of violence. In this regard, the cover and an article of the magazine "Isto é" are shown, where former President Dilma is portrayed with discriminatory aspects, thereby characterizing political violence of a gendered nature.
The Brazilian media's creation of such a narrative discredits the president's professional capabilities and instead focuses on gender identification to criticize her. This discourse promotes an idea that women possess an inherent essence, which values traditional social roles such as sensuality, motherhood, domestic duties, and submission. Consequently, any woman who does not conform to this stereotype is subjected to insults and disqualifications. Moreover, according to Telma Paulina Klipp: "this model or ideal does not include women in power, holding public positions, and challenging male hegemony in these spaces, thus implying hostility towards these women in particular” (free translation).
As a result, political gender violence undermines democracy and women's rights. Female parliamentarians face difficulties in exercising their profession due to this violence. Furthermore, media perpetuation of gender stereotypes solidifies them in society, discrediting the image of female parliamentarians to the public.
References:
BRAZIL. Rep. 10/2016. Brasilia: Chamber of Deputies, 2016. Available at: https://www2.camara.leg.br/a-camara/estruturaadm/eticaedecoro/pareceres/parecer-preliminar-do-dep-mauro-lopes-relator-do-processo-no-09-16-referente-a-representacao-no-10-16-em-desfavor-do-dep-laerte-bessa.
KLIPP, Telma Paulina. Gender Political Violence in Latin America: the relationship between Dilma Rousseff and the media. 2020. 66 f. Thesis (Doctorate) - International Relations Course, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis,2020.Availableat: https://repositorio.ufsc.br/bitstream/handle/123456789/213423/A%20VIOLENCIA%20POLITICA%20DE%20GENERO%20NA%20AMERICA%20LATINA%20-Telma%20Paulina%20Klipp.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
PINHO, Tássia Rabelo de. “Under the Carpet: Political Gender Violence and the Silence of the Ethics Council of the Chamber of Deputies”. Revista EstudosFeministas, Florianópolis, v. 28, no. 2, e67271, 2020.
About the author:
Thaynara Barbosa is a 26-year-old white, bisexual, feminist Brazilian woman. She is a researcher in the area of gender and politics and her mission is to promote gender equality in Latin America through creativity.
