Brazilian Women Are Not Just Their Butts

“Where are you from?”

“Brazil.”

“I have a folder on my desktop dedicated to women like you.”

I am tired of Brazilian women only making the international news because of their butts. I am tired of prancing lingerie-clad models being representative of Brazilian women. I am tired of seeing “Brazilian Butts” workout DVD commercials. Mostly, I am tired of the glorification of Brazilian butts which minimizes Brazilian women to one part of their body.

I don’t want my culture to be defined by butts and because of that I want to bring to light some extremely awesome Brazilian women who have or are contributing immensely to the empowerment of Latina women and just kicking butts left and right. 

Chiquinha Gonzaga – In 1868, Chiquinha’s husband made her choose between him and her piano. She chose music. Between protesting slavery and supporting her two children alone, Chiquinha wrote over two thousand songs including Brazil’s very first Carnaval ‘marcha’.

Maria da Penha – Maria escaped her husband’s two attempts to murder her and waited twenty years before he was punished for it. Brazil now has the Maria da Penha law which increases the punishment for domestic violence against women.

Carmen da Silva – in the 60’s and 70’s Carmen wrote about divorce and motherhood as a choice. Carmen also encouraged women to seek work as a form of freedom from financial and psychological dependency.

Pagu – In 1922, at the age of 14, Pagu had an abortion. Despite the social constraints of the time, Pagu spoke openly about sex education and of birth control options and availability.

Leila Diniz – During the Brazilian dictatorship this actress spoke openly about sexuality despite the strict censorship laws. Leila is credited for normalizing female sexuality and dispelling the myth of women not being able to separate love and sex.

Nisia Floresta – In 1832, when most women did not know how to read, 22-year-old Nisia wrote a book titled “The Rights of Women and the Injustices of Men”. Eventually she opened a school in Rio de Janeiro to teach women mathematics and history.