Mulheres na cozinha profissional: divisão sexual do trabalho, diversidade sexual e assédio

Abstract

This article analyzes gender inequalities present in Brazilian professional kitchens, with anemphasis on the sexual division of labor, dynamics of harassment, and the intersections betweengender, race, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The study aims to understand how structuralbarriers imposed on women affect their professional trajectories in the field of gastronomy, as well asto investigate the persistence of practices of violence and exclusion in this work environment. Theresearch is based on the hypothesis that patriarchy and the sexual division of labor operate as centralstructures of domination, contributing to the devaluation of women’s work, the hierarchization offunctions, and the naturalization of multiple forms of violence. This is a qualitative, theoretical studydeveloped through a narrative bibliographic review. Five scientific articles published between 2020and 2025, written in Portuguese, were selected based on criteria of thematic relevance, scientific rigor,and alignment with the Brazilian context. The results indicate that women face persistent challengesrelated to work overload, limited opportunities for hierarchical advancement, exclusion from positionsof power, and exposure to moral and sexual harassment. These forms of violence are intensified whenintersected by social markers such as race, sexual orientation, and gender identity, disproportionately affecting Black women and LGBTQIA+ individuals. This study contributes to the fields ofGastronomy and Gender Studies by highlighting the need for structural transformations that promotemore equitable, inclusive, and safe working environments in professional kitchens.