 |
 |
 |
| ||
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 Politics Women earned the right to vote and run for public office in 1934, and the new 1988 constitution reaffirmed their equal political rights. Currently, although women have the potential to run for office, only about 6% of the national congress is composed of women. Women do have a strong influence though, and are beginning to entwine themselves more in politics. In May 1999, the first woman was appointed to the 11 member supreme court. Non-governmental women’s rights organizations are abundant and strong in Brazil (the most successful in Latin America), and they are pushing the government for more rights and services for women. Domestic The role of women in Brazil varies from region to region, but the traditional role of a Brazilian woman is in the home, taking care of children, cooking, cleaning, and helping out her family or husband in his work. Men gain or loose honor by how ‘his woman’ acts. Now many families have moved to big cities and big companies instead of families mostly run agricultural operations. Often women either choose to or have to expand their lives to include out of housework. Women head 1 in every 5 households, and although many women marry, many others choose stable relationships without marriage or unstable liaisons as they desire. Domestic violence is high, especially when a relationship has ended, but courts are reluctant to punish men for domestic violence unless they kill their wives. In many households, when the family has decided they have enough children, the woman gets sterilized. Almost 40% of all married women between age 15 and 40 have been sterilized. Economic Women have equal economic rights under the law. Even so, the average income of females is only 60% that of males. Women are about 48% of the workforce, mostly in city jobs but some in rural and agricultural areas. Boys often start working young to earn extra money, but girls wait longer and get more educated. This higher level of education leaves girls applicable for higher-ranking jobs, but men with the same level of education as women often get paid more than women do. More than half of the families living below the poverty line are headed by women. Women are given 120 days of paid maternity leave from all jobs, and women’s organizations have been pushing for employer sponsored childcare. The retirement age for females is 5 years younger than that of males. Society Women are legally equal to men, and the majority of Brazilian society views them as equals. In farming areas or within the Amazon rainforest, however, women are expected to be submissive to men. Women are not discontent with their lives. There are many successful organizations trying to push for more rights, more jobs, and less discrimination for women. These organizations also take a strong role in environmental issues. Education Girls are often more educated than boys because boys are inclined to leave secondary school to get low paying jobs and earn extra money for themselves or their families. Girls are only expected to help out the family, so they have time to pursue an education and fill the more educated job niche. Girls age 10-14 have a 93% literacy rate, while boys of the same age only have an 89% literacy rate. 83% of adult males and females are literate. |
 |
|
| |||
 |
 |
|
Countries |
Biographies |
Religions | Interactive e-mail | About Us | Credits | Thank You's | ThinkQuest |
| ||||
| ||||||