Women's role in the public stage: a diversity of actors and political movements in the Brazilian Empire

Abstract

This paper analyzes the scenario of the public movements and the role of the social actors involved in the dynamics of the political process developed in the period of the Brazilian Empire, covering a diversity of political circumstances and focusing on a remarkable participation of women, as political actors, through the production of a number of what I call "political manifestos". Acting firmly and politically conscious of their power of pressure that could be exercised in the society in process of organization, expressive groups of women elaborated and subscribed documents supporting public causes, or, in other instances, letters claiming the right to participate in the political life of the society, sometimes promoting public movements on the streets and having even founded exclusively female societies to advocate the abolition of slavery. The reality of that historical period should not be underestimated: women's role was restricted, through social pressure, to the internal space at home and with social life limited to the scope of family relations.