Brazil Marks 94 Years of Women's Suffrage Amid Persistent Political Inequality
Brazil celebrates 94 years of women's suffrage, highlighting ongoing political inequality and underrepresentation despite historic milestones.
- • Women's suffrage in Brazil was granted in 1932 and made mandatory in 1965.
- • Celina Guimarães was the first woman to vote in Brazil in 1928; Alzira Soriano was the first female mayor in 1928.
- • Advocates like Bertha Lutz fought for women's electoral rights since the late 19th century.
- • Women occupy about 20% of Senate seats despite being over half of Brazil's population, facing structural and political violence barriers.
Key details
On February 24, 2026, Brazil commemorates 94 years since women first gained the right to vote, initially granted by President Getúlio Vargas's 1932 decree. This law allowed women to participate in the 1933 National Constituent Assembly elections, marking a historic milestone in the country's electoral history. Despite this early progress, women's voting only became mandatory in 1965. Key figures such as Celina Guimarães, the first Brazilian woman to vote in 1928, and Alzira Soriano, the first elected female mayor in Brazil and Latin America that same year, paved the way for women's political participation. Advocates like Bertha Lutz and Natércia da Silveira were crucial in securing women's electoral rights since the late 19th century.
However, challenges to women's full political inclusion persist. Senator Augusta Brito highlights structural barriers including unequal domestic responsibilities and political violence targeting women. Women currently occupy just 20% of the Senate seats, despite comprising over half of the Brazilian population. Legislative measures mandating a minimum of 30% female candidacies have yet to translate into equitable representation.
This anniversary spotlights both the historic gains and ongoing struggle for gender parity in Brazilian politics, illustrating that while suffrage was secured nearly a century ago, significant obstacles to equality remain.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
