CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2021
| Author | Beserra, Julye |
|---|---|
| Title | The Boss is a Black Woman: An Intersectional Case Study of the Executive Branch in Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Summary | Minas Gerais is the second most populated state in Brazil, and it is located in the country’s most economically prosperous region. In its gender mainstreaming policy, the executive branch of Minas Gerais established the goal to achieve gender parity within leadership positions by 2028. While the policy mentions intersectionality among its values, it does not apply it to this specific goal. Therefore, aiming to understand black women’s experiences regarding these leadership positions, this thesis employs an intersectional lens to analyze the mechanisms influencing black women’s political participation. I framed this study within the scholarship on political representation, which explores the presence of minority groups in the political sphere, connecting their participation with more inclusive policy outcomes. I argue that these women’s identity as black female leaders results in their unique political experiences and places them in specific roles in securing political representation for this group. I identified a series of social and political mechanisms influencing black women’s leadership experiences: racial identity, misogynoir, family, personality traits, access to high-quality education, party ideology, and the presence of critical allies. Misogynoir is the only mechanism solely hindering this group’s careers. The combination of misogyny and a racial struggle, derived from a denial of their racial identity, entails a sense of not belonging to the political sphere. Additionally, the constant reinforcement of gender stereotypes at the workplace or within the family hinders black women’s political success. Other barriers such as those derived from class, the association between left-leaning parties and diversity policies, and access to network ties may constrain this group’s political careers. Still, I identified how these mechanisms could also positively affect black women’s careers. For instance, by embracing their racial identity, they act as role models for the group and address their lack of belonging to politics. Furthermore, personal allies, such as supportive partners and mentors, foster this group’s political achievements. Lastly, I demonstrated the crucial role of policies in these women’s lives to reduce inequalities. This intersectional research indicates that black women’s political reality is unique, considering they suffer from combined oppressions and that misogynoir affects only this group. My study is an intersectional case study, entirely focused on black women’s experiences. I employed a qualitative analysis by conducting ten interviews with black women, who either formerly held or currently occupy leadership roles in the executive branch. Interviewees have diverse social backgrounds and work in different areas within the government. Lastly, this research adds to the existing scholarship by addressing not only this group’s barriers but also mechanisms enabling this group to tackle oppression and achieve leadership positions. Furthermore, this study contributes to the scholarship on political representation by addressing the experiences of Brazilian black female leaders in executive branches. By framing this study within the scholarship on political representation and intersectionality, my research demonstrates how black female leaders fulfill a crucial role of representation. |
| Supervisor | Krizsan, Andrea |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2021/beserra_julye.pdf |
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