Is sexism also a problem within the trade union movement itself?
Amongst the comrades right on the frontline it’s decreased a lot. Incredible though it may seem, amongst the rank and file in general, there are no sexist jokes. There’s a real respect for you. In my case they call me ‘Professora’. The trade union movement in general in Brazil is sexist, starting with the leadership of the CUT, the majority of whom are men, through to the Rural Workers’ Union, where you might have three women in non decision making positions. And in my union branch there are few women who will actually take up responsibility. Not because they aren’t capable, but because they think it’s the men who’ve got to decide things. To be heard, you’ve got to have both the technical knowledge of an issue, and a political understanding of things. How do you see these ideas being overcome? Through work and struggle. The Workers’ Party introduced this business of a 30 percent quota but I voted against it in the Congress. I think that we women have to win a space for ourselves throug
