Silence is a political message. And selectivity is a weapon of opportunism

Featured progressive women, especially in 2018 and 2020, have come under constant attack on their voices and powers.

In these 16 days of activism to end violence against women and 20 days of activism to combat racism, it is important to emphasize that neoliberalism is attacking our existence, especially black women, in all areas of our lives.

Mother Beth de Oxum: “We are an urban quilombo that does not fit into the whiteness of the Brazilian state.”

Machism, racism and lgbtomophobia – the structural axes of the capitalist system – disrupt our ways of walking, acting, acting, resisting, regulating our bodies, our sleep, our rest, our hunger, our material ambitions, social and even political.

This is why, when it comes to a woman occupying a political space in defense of democracy, this is a scandalous image for traditional conservatism.

We do not want to be treated only as beneficiaries of state policy, we want the right to make decisions on them.

There have been countless incidents of political violence against women in chambers of parliament across the country, further affecting black women, young people and LGBT people who suffer from racism, ageism and homophobia, constantly declaring that they are not, this is the place for them.

“Traveco, viadinho and piranha”: meeting of the Niteroi chamber marked by transphobic crimes

And, if, on the one hand, there is complete silence in the coverage of the topic by the mainstream media, on the other hand, when approaching the topic, there is also a selectivity and opportunistic inconstancy of political fields.

Over time, it is important to emphasize that political violence against women does not contradict the arguments she is presently presenting on the platform, but rather it is an attack on a woman’s right to speak and defend a vision of the world and, above all, on her right to directly influence transformation the world.

We do not want to be treated only as beneficiaries of state policy, we want the right to make decisions on them.

In Congress, Assemblies and Municipal Chambers across the country, PT parliamentarians are at the forefront of advocating for women, especially those in greatest need, developing proposals and taking positions on issues related to the survival of Brazilian women in society, such as labor rights and social Security.

We understand that fighting machismo and oppression of women means guaranteeing rights and a dignified life for all, including upon retirement.

In participating governments, together with Lula and Dilma, we have endorsed the Maria da Peña Act, which is a major milestone in the fight against violence against women.

We have expanded the protection mechanisms for Brazilian women, prioritized women on the Bolsa-Família card, on the right to housing through Minha Casa Minha Vida, approved the PEC das Domésticas, implemented economic policies with a real increase in the minimum wage, created a network of policies and actions to enable women to obtain financial, emotional and social autonomy to avoid situations of violence.

Condemning the misogynistic and sexist coup against President Dilma Rousseff, we stood up and mobilized, faced with the silence of many, many, about Dilma’s atrocities.

We stood up and sympathized with Manuela D’Avil when she faced meanness and meanness on social media, while many also remained silent.

Silence is a political message. And selectivity is a weapon of opportunism. Protecting women from political gender-based violence is a difficult, daily and ongoing challenge – not only when it comes to shifting the political chessboard in favor of a particular group.

Combating political gender-based violence has been one of the pillars of the work of the PT National Secretariat for Women, because we deeply understand the importance of ensuring women’s participation in politics, which implies not only the election of more women, but also the right to fully exercise their mandate without coercion, intimidation and violence.

This is why the defense of democracy is so dear to the country and so essential to the feminist agenda. And we PT women put democracy into practice, not only during electoral periods, but in all our relationships with civil society and social movements, and even within our own organization.

We will take to the streets on 4 December as part of a national campaign calling for Faure Bolsonar, for women’s rights and for an end to government genocide.

We invite all women against Bolsonaro and we will continue to move firmly on the path of increasing women’s participation in politics and protecting each other until 2022. We do not tolerate any practice of coercion into silence, and we remain in solidarity and united with everyone who is in the fight against fascism and authoritarianism.

* Ann Moura is a feminist, indigenous, manauar and petista. PT National Secretary for Women’s Affairs. Creator of the Elas Por Elas project. Participates in the women’s group of the Forum of Sao Paulo and Coppala (Permanent Conference of Political Parties in Latin America). Read other texts.

** This is an opinion. The author’s vision does not necessarily reflect the newspaper’s editorial line. Brazil actually…

Edition: Leandro Melito