The Brazilian Federaҫāo Brasileira pelo Progresso Feminino (FBFP) feminist movement of the early twentieth century was uniquely characterized and shaped by an acceptance of traditional gender norms. While historians and civil rights activists often portray women’s movements as struggles against existing governmental and social institutions, I propose that the nationalistic policies promoted by President Gétulio Vargas reinforced conventional notions of womanhood while simultaneously securing legal equality for women. This paper examines the methods by which writer Bertha Lutz and the FBFP promoted established constructions of gender roles in order to gain legitimacy and widespread support among other progressive movements. Most notably, the paper focuses on the ways in which Vargas’ nationalist propaganda reinforced images of the ideal women as homemaker, wife, and mother, a depiction that was subsequently embraced by Brazilian feminist leaders during the turn of the century. Through a textual analysis of feminist newspaper articles and treatises published during the early twentieth century, it becomes apparent that the Brazilian women’s movement conceptualized womanhood largely within the domestic sphere. Additionally, textual examination of Vargas’ nationalist propaganda provides a context for understanding how the emerging Brazilian state proscribed distinct roles for a dutiful and engaged citizenry.

Constructing Femininity in Brazil: Nationalism's Reinforcement of Traditional Gender Roles