Political participation from rural quilombola women in the Brazilian northeast

Abstract

We aim to discuss the forms of political participation by rural quilombola women, considering their insertion spaces, the challenges faced by them and the effects produced in dayly life. Therefore, we conducted semi-structured interviews as a tactic of data production. The main instances of participation by women are social movements, trade unions, local residents’ associations and religious groups. In these spaces, they contribute as listeners and in monthly financial aid to unions and residents’ associations. The women point to difficulties related to the traditional gender roles, as well as the ones of a material order, such as lack of transportation, making participation in events impossible, and communitary demobilization. Repercussions were found in the political participation in terms of improvements to life conditions, the acquisition of new knowledges and the changes made in family and community relations. The ethnic and racial identity and racism were matters that were not touched upon at length as far as the content treated in the instances of political participation goes.