By Marco Mourão
Source: Nappy
Sexual harassment is a present reality in Brazilian society and, unfortunately, it is still a taboo subject in many circles. Despite the advances won by the feminist movement over recent decades, the objectification of women and a sexist upbringing continue to drive this phenomenon. In this context, it is essential to highlight the importance of education and awareness for changing mindsets and behaviours, as well as the help in combating it brought by the development of technology and the emergence of social media
The statistics
8.9% of Brazilian women have suffered some kind of sexual abuse; 97% of women say they have been victims of harassment on public transport; one case of rape of a vulnerable person happens every hour in São Paulo.
Among women who are victims of harassment, molestation or sexual abuse, every tear shed is a sign of a deep pain that comes from sad memories, hard to accept and to overcome over the course of a life.
The fears and traumas that arise as a result of these experiences are often felt in the body and in the memory of those who cannot come to terms with their life stories.
Blaming a person who has been a victim of abuse or harassment only increases the suffering and does nothing to reduce crimes against dignity. Policies for confronting these crimes and supporting victims still need to improve a great deal in order to meet the needs of those who seek help, silently crying out for rescue.
The roots
On the culture of harassment and gender inequality, in order to understand better its origins and its development in Brazilian society, we will take into account a number of factors responsible for making this practice easier to establish. Some began to take root at the very base of society: education, which although it still shows sexist traits today, was far more openly so in the past, objectifying the female sex as extremely fragile and submissive and helping to drive this phenomenon in Brazil.
The history of Brazil is marked by a profound gender inequality. Ever since the country was built as an independent nation, the female figure was relegated to a secondary role, restricted to the domestic sphere; women were always raised to be submissive to men. Winning rights was a slow and arduous process, and even today there is still much to be done to overcome the historical legacies of the patriarchal social system. This sexist culture contributed, and still contributes, to the normalisation of sexual harassment, which is often seen as something normal or even justifiable.
For a long time, women were shaped by a sexist society; for much of history, female education was restricted to preparation for marriage and for the role of housewife. In Brazil, until the end of the 19th century, women were subject to impositions that limited their choices and opportunities, reinforcing their submission to men and the marginalisation of their voices and their power of decision. During the colonial period, women did not attend school, with the exception of some women who, being from the elite, were allowed to receive a certain degree of literacy — though still with limits, learning to read and write at home or in convents, and not being allowed to attend school.
In the Empire period, there was an increase in the number of girls’ schools, but the curriculum was still geared towards activities considered “feminine”, such as sewing, embroidery and music. Beyond social limitations, women suffered for many years under legal limitations, having to fight both for their recognition in society and in the labour market and for their rights, which were few or non-existent.
In Brazil, until 1968, women were legally discriminated against, being considered ‘sexus infermitatem’, a legal term predating Christ that reflected gender discrimination between men and women, casting the figure of the woman as legally and socially incapable and forbidding her from working without her husband’s authorisation. This situation only changed from 1988 onwards, at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, with women entering the labour market, when female education came to be more highly valued.
In a setting where women found themselves legally unprotected and chained by social custom, without even the right to work without their husband’s authorisation, society developed carrying with it prejudice and neglect towards the female figure. That is why every kind of law in favour of women, and which combats the old social bonds in which they are still caught, represents a victory for all the women of Brazil, moving ever closer to an egalitarian ideal.
Technology changing the scene
Technology and social media are increasingly present in our lives, allowing situations of conflict to be brought into the public sphere instantly and rapidly. The events involving the congresswoman Julia Zanatta are a reflection of this. Sexual harassment can occur both offline and online, and can take many forms, such as unwanted messages, threats, the unauthorised sharing of intimate images and other forms of virtual violence.
It is important to stress the importance of discussing harassment in this environment, since its occurrence represents a serious violation of people’s rights and dignity. Regarding the exposure of personal photos without authorisation, we will highlight here the Lei Brasileira 12.737/2012, known as the Lei Carolina Dieckmann, which defines computer crimes and is an amendment to the Brazilian Penal Code aimed at virtual crimes and computer offences.
The use of social media widens the possibilities for harassment, providing a space where aggressors can hide behind anonymity and physical distance. Several laws have been created over the years with a view to greater protection in the virtual environment; in 2018 the LGDP law was created, coming into force in September 2020. Its purpose is to regulate the use, protection and transfer of personal data in Brazil, guaranteeing greater privacy and security for citizens.
The LGPD is based on principles such as transparency, purpose, adequacy, necessity, free access and security. After it came into effect, it produced many significant impacts for companies and organisations that handle personal data, which now have to adapt to the new rules and guarantee the protection of the data of their clients and users. The law provides for sanctions against those who fail to comply, including fines that can reach 2% of a company’s revenue, capped at R$ 50 milhões per infraction.
Beyond guaranteeing greater protection for citizens’ personal data, the LGPD also brings benefits for the companies and organisations that comply with it. By adopting good data protection practices, they can win the trust of clients and users, increase transparency and efficiency in data management, and stand out in the market by offering a safer and more responsible service.
Today the misuse of cyberspace and social media is covered by law and is combated, yet there are still many cases of sexual harassment on social media, and their consequences for victims are enormous, capable of causing emotional and psychological damage. The lack of awareness about the limits of online behaviour, the ease with which content spreads and the impunity of aggressors all favour the perpetuation of this problem. However, the internet can also give a voice to people who previously could not be heard, and make the resolution of crimes faster and more efficient.
The case of Vana Lopes, who reported the doctor Roger Abdelmassih in 1993 and had her story written by the journalists Claudio Tognolli and Malu Magalhães in the book “Bem-vindo ao inferno — A história de Vana Lopes, a vítima que caçou o médico estuprador Roger Abdelmassih”, and who only obtained justice in 2009, shows how the internet and social media helped give visibility to cases of abuse and harassment. After Roger’s case, women gained more of a voice and more attention in cases of abuse.
With the development of the internet and social media, cases involving women who are victims of abuse quickly gain prominence and mobilise social media, as was the case of the anaesthetist Giovanni Quintella Bezerra, arrested in July 2022 in Rio de Janeiro after staff at the health unit filmed him raping a patient during childbirth. This year, on 29 January 2023, Vana died, and in her final months of life she continued the fight for the Victim’s Statute bill (PL 3890/20), which aims to humanise, educate and prevent the revictimisation of people whose rights have been violated.
The use of social media to commit harassment affects not only the victims but also society as a whole, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and creating a hostile and unsafe virtual environment. Technology and social media have brought significant benefits to society, but they have also opened doors to new forms of violence.
References
- TOGNOLLI, Claudio; MAGALHÃES, Malu. Bem-vindo ao inferno — A história de Vana Lopes, a vítima que caçou o médico estuprador Roger Abdelmassih.