March 2023, study conducted by Famivita with more than 2,100 participants between December 19, 2022 and January 2, 2023: From social media timelines to bar tables, including TV series and academic research: equality between men and women has never been as much at the forefront as it is today, and International Women's Day further fosters this debate. The occasion, in fact, brings urgent issues to the forefront, which impact the most varied aspects of social life, spanning the public sphere, the labor market, and even the home environment.

When it comes to political representation, for example, the truth is that in 2022, record numbers were reached for female candidates, with 33.3% of registrations at the federal, state, and district levels. Despite this, they occupied only 17.3% of the seats in the Senate.

In the professional sphere as well, there are still few women in leadership positions, and the impact goes far beyond that. A survey released by Catho in 2019 revealed how much women are at a disadvantage in the labor market due to pregnancy, since the number of women who leave their jobs because of their children reaches 30%, whereas only 7% of men leave their jobs for the same reason. On another note, a report released by Oxfam International showed that women are responsible for 75% of all unpaid care work in the world.

To make matters worse, 21% of women who become pregnant lose their jobs when returning from maternity leave and, even now in the 21st century, there are still those who argue that women should be paid less simply because they get pregnant. In contemporary Brazil, for example, they earn on average 20% less than men, according to a survey by consultancy IDados, based on the IBGE's National Household Sample Survey. And, on this topic, for 55% of the participants in our latest study, there is no gender equality in the country.

Do you believe there is equality between women and men?

The Need for Feminism

Feminism advocates for legal, political, and social equality between men and women. Such equality involves different points, such as political and labor rights, civil liberties, equal pay, and the sharing of domestic work. From another perspective, the movement also addresses fighting various forms of oppression that manifest themselves culturally and socially, such as moral, psychological, and physical harassment, as well as the imposition of standards of beauty and behavior.

In recent years, in fact, feminist movements have attracted increasing attention from society. However, even while under the spotlight, there are many stereotypes surrounding those who identify as feminists. Many people believe they are women who don't wear makeup, don't shave, and hate men, to cite some of the most common labels.

Perhaps due to these misguided views, there is not as strong an identification with the movement. In the 1920s, for example, feminists were called "spinsters," and it was common to see articles speculating about their sexual preferences. More than a century later, this type of outlook seems to, in some ways, persist. And in our study, the necessity of feminism almost split opinions, since 48% of women said the movement is not necessary.

Do you think feminism is necessary?

  • Especially in the age group 45 to 49 years, 67% of respondents stated that there is no equality between men and women.
  • In the 40 to 44 years bracket, 65% pointed out this disparity.
  • Especially younger women said that feminism is necessary, since 58% of them responded positively, in the 18 to 24 year age group.
  • Among women aged 35 to 39, 43% stated that the movement is essential.

International Women's Day: a Trivial Date?

It seems unbelievable, but at the beginning of the last century, in many countries, women depended on the legal guardianship of fathers, brothers, or husbands to have bank accounts, acquire assets, and even to travel from one city to another. They could not study, could not vote, were not allowed to work outside, decide who to marry, did not have the right to divorce, or plan when and how many children to have, among various other restrictions.

International Women's Day arose as a commemorative date, linked to a succession of events. It was made official by the United Nations (UN) in the 1970s and came to symbolize the historical struggle for women to have conditions equal to those of men, as well as highlighting the achievements of the feminist movement throughout the 20th century.

Although over time the date has acquired the connotation of giving homage, in the sense of congratulating women or giving them flowers, the Day represents much more an invitation to reflection, to value the advances achieved and to assess challenges, whether in the family, social, or professional spheres. It also concerns observing how society has treated women, bearing in mind, for example, that according to the Brazilian Yearbook of Public Security, in 2021, 1,341 women were killed as victims of femicide. And still on this topic, 87% of respondents consider International Women's Day to be important.

  • Among women aged 45 to 49, 93% said the date is relevant.
  • In the 18 to 24 years group, 90% responded affirmatively about this.
  • By state, Roraima and Rio Grande do Norte were the regions where the most Brazilian women indicated the importance of International Women's Day.

Ranking of States Where Brazilian Women Believe Feminism is Necessary

  • 1.Roraima
  • 2.Amazonas
  • 3.Sergipe
  • 4.Pernambuco
  • 5.Maranhão
  • 6.Rio Grande do Norte
  • 7.Santa Catarina
  • 8.Rio de Janeiro
  • 9.Ceará
  • 10.Alagoas
  • 11.São Paulo
  • 12.Piauí
  • 13.Goiás
  • 14. Tocantins
  • 15.Minas Gerais
  • 16.Espírito Santo
  • 17.Distrito Federal
  • 18.Paraná
  • 19.Pará
  • 20.Mato Grosso do Sul
  • 21.Amapá
  • 22.Acre
  • 23.Rondônia
  • 24.Bahia
  • 25.Rio Grande do Sul
  • 26.Paraíba
  • 27.Mato Grosso

Index of States Where Brazilian Women Highlighted the Inequality Between Men and Women

Research Method

The study was nationwide and was carried out with more than 2,100 participants between December 19, 2022 and January 2, 2023. The data collection method was an online questionnaire form.

The following questions were asked:

  • Do you believe there is equality between women and men?
  • Do you think feminism is necessary?
  • For you, is March 8 (International Women's Day) important?

For the purpose of comparing results between regions and states, answers to the yes/no questions were counted numerically, 1 for "yes" and 0 for "no." Some questions, aimed at obtaining more qualitative results, offered more answer options.