O movimento contra o voto feminino – no Brasil e no mundo

This podcast episode from G1 analyzes the alarming resurgence of arguments against women's voting rights in the 21st century, a phenomenon that emerged prominently during recent electoral cycles in both the United States and Brazil. The episode opens with accounts from American influencer Savannah Stone and others promoting the concept of "family voting" — where one vote per household would be decided by the male head of household — rather than individual voting rights.

Professor Tatiana Vargas Maia explains that while historical arguments against women's suffrage (circa 1900s) focused on women's supposed emotional and psychological incapacity, contemporary anti-suffrage rhetoric reframes women's voting as the root cause of societal problems and the erosion of traditional gender roles. She notes this represents an attack on democratic principles of inclusion that evolved throughout the 20th century.

The podcast documents how these ideas circulate internationally through networks of evangelical pastors, conservative politicians, and influencers. A BBC investigation identified connections between American pastor Douglas Wilson and Brazil's Missão Guanabara, demonstrating how anti-feminist ideology flows between countries. The Trump administration's policies promoting pronatlism (including proposed financial incentives for childbirth and menstrual tracking education) provide political backing for these movements.

In Brazil's recent elections, multiple conservative female candidates were elected on explicitly anti-feminist platforms. Eduarda Campopiano, elected as a state deputy with nearly 2 million votes, denied the existence of femicide and positioned herself as an enemy of feminists. Despite women's representation in the Brazilian Congress reaching a record 109 deputies (21.2% of seats), the majority are right-wing, and proportionally, left-wing parties have higher percentages of female representation.

Scientist Marina Abasso Lacerda explains that women defending these anti-feminist positions are complete individuals with religious beliefs, class positions, and political values — not solely defined by their gender. She notes that male political actors actively encourage women's participation in anti-feminist campaigns because female voices delegitimizing feminism are more credible and powerful than male voices making the same arguments.

Both experts express concern that while immediate removal of voting rights may seem unlikely (as it's constitutionally protected), the normalization of misogynistic discourse creates conditions for gradual erosion of other women's rights, including reproductive rights, protection against domestic violence (Maria da Penha Law), and recognition of femicide. They emphasize that democracies require constant vigilance and that no right is permanently secure without active defense.