Women in Brazil

One of the best explorations of gender role expectations actually focused on the attitudes of boys and young men. This study, a qualitative research study involving 127 young men and women in Rio de Janeiro, looked at the formation of gender roles and attitudes about masculinity, femininity, fatherhood, child care, and domestic violence (Barker and Loewenstein, 1997).

The researchers in this study found that most men believed in strict, traditional gender roles based on machista values. Men believed that certain qualities and behaviors defined their masculinity, and that women had to conform to their expectations or risk violence. The men felt justified in taking their anger out on the women, while the women simply endured this. However, there was also a minority of the men who the researchers termed progressive males who questioned traditional attitudes and were open to more expansive gender roles for women. However, these progressive males were criticized by machista males. The researchers discovered that the ability to challenge machista values

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ion is considered important for both sexes, at the present women actually are obtaining higher levels of education than the men. They also live longer. In terms of the economy, women's situation is also changing rapidly. Women have moved into professional positions during the last few decades, with women in business, academia, and law. There are more women currently involved in the tertiary sector of the economy, which is actually the fastest growing area of the economy (Osava, 1997). There is still a wage gap between women and men, although it is shrinking. In 1992, employed women earned approximately 61.6 percent of men's salaries, while by 1996, women earned approximately 65.8 percent of men's salaries. Although this is still a significant difference, the movement of women's salaries is clearly headed in the right direction (Osava, 1997). Coupled with the levels of educational attainment among women, and their entrance into the tertiary sector in large numbers, the trend seems quite positive. Cultural Dimensions One of the more important cultural dimensions affecting the lives of women is religion. Gender roles have long been shaped by the intersection of the Catholic Church and other elements of a patriarchal society.
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Approximate Word count = 2010
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

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