United Workers of the Americas

Let’s break down the numbers... as if human beings could ever just be numbers. Still, some people need data, statistics, cold hard facts to understand issues. So here it is. 40% of all women killed in Latin America are killed in Brazil--most by a husband, boyfriend, or lover. Alison Brysk in her article “Stuck in the Middle: Gender Violence in Brazil” published by the Wilson Center, she goes on to present yet another horrifying number, saying, “over a third of Brazil’s women have suffered battering and sexual assault...” (A Snapshot of the Status of Women in Brazil: 2019).  When sexual assault and femicide are such a widespread issue in Brazil, is it really any wonder that sexual harassment in the workplace is rampant? It is easy to make a connection between sexual violence and sexual harassment. One doesn't happen without the other. 

Sexual harassment, intimidation, and gender discrimination is a huge problem experienced by female journalists in Brazil’s news industry (Mulheres No Jornalismo Brasileiro). Women are regularly catcalled, kissed, and groped on camera. Off-camera they are spat upon, propositioned for sex to get a promotion or material for a story, and sometimes even threatened with rape.

According to Mundo Sindical, “A recent survey by the Federal District Collective of Women Journalists and the local union points out that 74.3% of journalists have experienced sexual harassment at some point in their career. Bullying against female journalists reaches 77.9%.” Just in the last month, female journalists met together in a conference to discuss and debate the actions they can take to protect themselves and each other. In the same article as above, Mundo Sindical also announced the event on October 30, 2019, hosted by SJSP and Coletivo de Jornalistas Sindicato é Pra Lutar! Invited were Brazilian journalists, including Mariana Pereira from the #DeixaElaTrabalhar campaign, and public health specialist, psychologist Claudia Lima.  According to Adriana Franco of SJSP, several journalists shared their experiences of being bullied or sexually harassed. Ponte Jornalisimo’s Maria Tereza Cruz pointed out to attendees that it is very important to stand up for oneself and to let the harasser know that they have crossed a line. In the end, Cruz recommended looking for another source rather than continuing to put oneself in a harassing situation. Lilian Parise, SJSP Union secretary, and discussion panel moderator, encouraged both the many women and few men in attendance to report any harassment they witness to the SJSP Union through a Google Form.

This reporting form is a great start! Women have already banded together and calling out harassers is an important step. It was encouraging to see a few men in the audience at the “Moral and sexual harassment in journalism: how to fight it” panel supporting the women they work with. However, there needs to be more men involved. Good men need to call out men who bully. Good men need to report men who harass. Women can do amazing things, but men must stand up for women too. 

In the end, who knows? Taking a stand might even save lives.