Social Movements and Women's Participation in Brazil

Abstract

To understand the present situation of Brazilian women, this article sets out to examine the way it has evolved in the past 20 years. The change of regime in 1964 led to an exacerbation of the economic crisis for the ordinary people of Brazil. This was accompanied by a restriction of civil liberties. Thus deprived of formal channels of negotiation, women formed a new movement. They began to play a public role, motivated by a desire for a better life for their children, the release of imprisoned relatives, and higher wages. In this way, they began to penetrate the public realm.