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| Brazil's women politicians march on – but the pace is still too slow for many | Brazil's women politicians march on – but the pace is still too slow for many |
| (6 months later) | |
| Brazilians will return to the polls next week less than a month after voters elected a record number of women as mayors, but gender equality is still a distant goal in a political culture long dominated by men. | Brazilians will return to the polls next week less than a month after voters elected a record number of women as mayors, but gender equality is still a distant goal in a political culture long dominated by men. |
| Only one female candidate will participate in the 50-city mayor run-offs on 28 October, which means Brazil will continue to lag behind most other Latin American states in terms of the gender balance among elected officials. | Only one female candidate will participate in the 50-city mayor run-offs on 28 October, which means Brazil will continue to lag behind most other Latin American states in terms of the gender balance among elected officials. |
| The popularity of Brazil's first female president, Dilma Rousseff, and the planned widening of a quota system for women candidates have raised expectations of rapid change. But gains have proved steady rather than spectacular. | The popularity of Brazil's first female president, Dilma Rousseff, and the planned widening of a quota system for women candidates have raised expectations of rapid change. But gains have proved steady rather than spectacular. |
| In the first round of voting this month, 621 women were elected as mayors, up from 504 in 2008 and 187 in 1996. | In the first round of voting this month, 621 women were elected as mayors, up from 504 in 2008 and 187 in 1996. |
| The results prompted a commentator from the Hoje media group to declare "women were the major victors in this election", a conclusion echoed by several domestic newspapers. Candidates, however, remained more cautious. | The results prompted a commentator from the Hoje media group to declare "women were the major victors in this election", a conclusion echoed by several domestic newspapers. Candidates, however, remained more cautious. |
| "We are living a very important moment in Brazilian democracy, with the growth of female participation in politics and other types of power, which is a fundamental move forward to equal rights," said Teresa Surita, whose win in Boa Vista has made her the first Brazilian women to win a fourth term as mayor. | "We are living a very important moment in Brazilian democracy, with the growth of female participation in politics and other types of power, which is a fundamental move forward to equal rights," said Teresa Surita, whose win in Boa Vista has made her the first Brazilian women to win a fourth term as mayor. |
| But she emphasised that there was still a long way to go. Although women make up 52% of the electorate in Brazil, they account for only 12% of mayors (less than half the proportion in the UK and 5 percentage points lower than the US). "The disproportion of legislative power between the genders is still huge," says Surita. | But she emphasised that there was still a long way to go. Although women make up 52% of the electorate in Brazil, they account for only 12% of mayors (less than half the proportion in the UK and 5 percentage points lower than the US). "The disproportion of legislative power between the genders is still huge," says Surita. |
| Only one female mayoral candidate – Vanessa Grazziotin in Manaus – will run-off in the second-round of voting. The proportion of new women councillors elected this year rose only fractionally to 13.3% from 12.5% in 2008. | Only one female mayoral candidate – Vanessa Grazziotin in Manaus – will run-off in the second-round of voting. The proportion of new women councillors elected this year rose only fractionally to 13.3% from 12.5% in 2008. |
| In a recent UN study, Brazil ranked 116th out of 143 countries in terms of the number of women in the national legislature. | In a recent UN study, Brazil ranked 116th out of 143 countries in terms of the number of women in the national legislature. |
| It has been hoped that the gap would close more dramatically, partly as a result of affirmative action and largely because of the positive examples set by successful women politicians such as Rousseff, who enjoys approval ratings of more than 60%, and Marina Silva, the environmental campaigner. | It has been hoped that the gap would close more dramatically, partly as a result of affirmative action and largely because of the positive examples set by successful women politicians such as Rousseff, who enjoys approval ratings of more than 60%, and Marina Silva, the environmental campaigner. |
| In 1995, Brazil imposed quotas on political parties, requiring that 20% of candidates should be women. That has since been raised to 30%. Next year, the ruling Workers party has pledged to allot 50% of council positions to women to help balance political entry-level positions. | In 1995, Brazil imposed quotas on political parties, requiring that 20% of candidates should be women. That has since been raised to 30%. Next year, the ruling Workers party has pledged to allot 50% of council positions to women to help balance political entry-level positions. |
| However, the largely voluntary quotas have been less effective than more stringent targets set in other Latin American nations. | However, the largely voluntary quotas have been less effective than more stringent targets set in other Latin American nations. |
| In Argentina – the first country in the world to introduce quotas – 40% of national legislators are women. The president is Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. In Bolivia, which introduced quotas 15 years ago, the proportion is even higher at 47%. | In Argentina – the first country in the world to introduce quotas – 40% of national legislators are women. The president is Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. In Bolivia, which introduced quotas 15 years ago, the proportion is even higher at 47%. |
| Change in Brazil has come more slowly, but commentators believe it is still profound. | Change in Brazil has come more slowly, but commentators believe it is still profound. |
| Oswaldo Munteal, a history lecturer at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro said the 2010 victory of Dilma was a turning point. | Oswaldo Munteal, a history lecturer at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro said the 2010 victory of Dilma was a turning point. |
| "Women have been less corrupt in politics. What is happening now is a consequence of that fact," he said. "I think we're living a very important political moment for women." | "Women have been less corrupt in politics. What is happening now is a consequence of that fact," he said. "I think we're living a very important political moment for women." |
| In many other areas of Brazilian society, women still lag behind men in terms of promotions and income, but the disparities appear to be shrinking. In 2007, women earned 67% of male salaries for comparable jobs. In 2011, the difference was 70.4%. Unemployment among women has fallen from 11% to 9.1%. For men there has been a similar fall, from 6.2% to 4.9%. | In many other areas of Brazilian society, women still lag behind men in terms of promotions and income, but the disparities appear to be shrinking. In 2007, women earned 67% of male salaries for comparable jobs. In 2011, the difference was 70.4%. Unemployment among women has fallen from 11% to 9.1%. For men there has been a similar fall, from 6.2% to 4.9%. |
| Additional reporting by Carolina Massote | Additional reporting by Carolina Massote |
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