THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRAZIL

Men and Women have been recorded to be involved in mobilisation, development and promotion of collective consumption in Latin America, Brazil not excluded. It is argued that the participation of women may be seen as an extension of their activities in the domestic arena. Women have been noted as good manager, they have been known to provide food, nurture human life, they are also producers, a consumer and an equally endowed agent for fostering a wholesome political, social and economic development in society.  With regards to the development of Brazil, Men and women have played a role, ranging from just being citizens, representatives, initiators, and participants. The area of development includes economic, political, social, cultural, health wise, education to mention a few.

Women have been participating in the development of  Brazil since inception  just like the role women in Africa have played towards development since time immemorial has played which explains the perspective of women being mothers (vehicle for nurturing human life) is also a producer, a consumer and an equally endowed agent for fostering a wholesome political, social and economic development in society . 

By the 1970s evidence of women participation began glaring as there was evidence of women participation in all aspects of the Brazilian economy namely political, social, economic and majorly the Brasilian labour market to mention a few. Since 1980s women participation have become more intense, a reason for this is the 1988 constitution which have promoted gender participation without discrimination and example of this is the 5th article of the 1988 constitution which gives same legal rights and duties to both men and women, In theory, this to a large extent is so in practice except for a select few.

Thus women have and still are contributing their quota in the political aspect such as Dilma Rouseff who was a president of Brazil, there is evidence of women as mayors such as Teresa Surita. Women as representatives, federal judges, office in senate since 1979. Women are also senators eg . On June 5, 1979, Eunice Mafalda Michillis, a member of the ARENA party of Amazonas, became the first woman to hold the post of senator in Brazil.

 An analysis of women’s work in 381 enterprises comprising 80% of Sao Paulo’s industries shows that when women remain in the industrial sector, even highly qualified ones are found mostly in the bureaucracy, not in the productive sector.

Women are also integrally involved in the social and economic development in Brazil as they have productive capabilities, human factors etc. Women employment in export food-processing industry, decision making, informal and indigenous economy as  weavers, knitters, market women, shopkeepers, traders, managerial capabilities of women , commercial trade cannot be overlooked which in their own little way have promoted development.

REFERENCE 

Leda  Machado. 1988. The Participation  of Women in the Health Movement of Jardim Nordeste, in the Eastern Zone of Sao Paulo, Brazil: 1976-1985. Bulletin of Latin American Research. Vol 7.No 1 p47 

Oyekanmi D.O 2004. Socio Economic Dimensions of Gender Equality in Nigeria in Paradox of Gender Equality in Nigerian Politics. Akinboye S.O. (ed), Lagos: Concept Human Sciences Series. P 54

Ogwu J. 1992 Women Development: Options and Dilemmas in the human rights equations, in Perspective on Human Rights, Kalu & Osinbajo (eds.), Lagos, Vol. 12, Fed.minS. of justice, p. 143

FAO, The current situation of Brazilian women available at http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0210e/x0210e02.htm

Eva Alterman Blay and Susan A. Soeiro,  1979, The Political Participation of Women in Brazil: Female Mayors http://www.jstor.org/stable/3173533 Accessed: 16-12-2017 00:41 UTC  P44

June E. Hahner , 1982, “Women’s Place” in Politics and Economics in Brazil since 1964 pp. 83-91 available at  http://www.jstor.org/stable/3513474 accessed on 16/12/2017

 P84

Hellman J.A. 1992. Making Women Visible: New Works on Latin American and Caribbean Women. Latin American Research Review Vol27, No 1 pp 182-190