O impacto político da Lei de Cotas por gênero e o fenômeno das candidaturas consideradas “Laranjas”

Abstract

This research is situated within the field of gender and politics, as well as the discussions surrounding this topic. It examines the process of women’s participation in the formal political arena through a policy aimed at addressing inequalities: the implementation of the gender quota law in Brazil. It also analyzes the impacts of this legislation. The roles that women are expected to play in society have long been the subject of political debate. This debate is present both in classical political thought and in contemporary sociology. Women have increasingly gained space in important spheres of society, such as the economy and education. However, they still have not achieved significant numerical representation in formal politics. Their presence in the National Congress is less than 10%, even though they account for more than 50% of the Brazilian population. In the 2010 elections, the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) began requiring compliance with a minimum percentage of 30% of candidacies for one of the genders. Modern democracy has not resolved this situation, and party competition has also failed to do so. Quotas constitute a way of managing this inequality in an attempt to reduce it. The relationship between the gender quota law and the complexity of electoral politics gave rise to the phenomenon known as “dummy candidacies.” For the development of this study, research was conducted on the topic involving the relationship between gender and politics, as well as on gender relations in other social spheres. Data from several sources were also analyzed, ranging from direct interviews to quantitative information extracted from databases. The inclusion of new political actors in the electoral environment is a complex process. The attempt to manage inequalities in candidacies faces the pragmatic logic of elections, which seeks to maximize the number of votes through already tested profiles. The quota policy was effective in encouraging women’s candidacies; however, it did not result in the formation of competitive female candidates capable of effectively contesting elections.