Hebe C. Boa-Viagem: The fight must continue, by Pepsi’ Nicole Hunter & Alyssa Ponder

Pepsi’ Nicole Hunter & Alyssa Ponder

Por 383, Prof Gândara

Final Paper: Hebe C. Boa- Viagem a Costa

11 May 2014

Hebe C. Boa-Viagem a. costa: The fight must continue

Hebe C. Boa-Viagem a Costa was born in the small town, Macatuba. After getting her basic education she moved to Sao Paulo to further her education. Since then, she has received her degree in Library Studies, Law, and Pedagogy and Social Sciences. She also received certification in Special Habilitation in Administration and school Supervision. She has many achievements including becoming a member of the Examination Board for candidates entering public teaching in Sao Paulo, the Director of Curriculum at the Coordination of Studies and Pedagogical Standards, Secretary of Education in Sao Paulo, and Professor of the state public system. She retired from teaching after thirty years in 1981. However, she did not stop there; she went into painting after her retirement and received national awards as well as international awards. After ten years of painting she became a writer, focusing on short stories, children stories, and biographies. She has been published in Brazil, Italy, and France. She is a widow with a son and a granddaughter. Hebe, to say the very least, is an advocate for women’s agency and the fight for women’s equality. In our conversation with Hebe, we asked her about specific topics. These topics include prostitution, women’s rights, and the acceptance of African religion. There was not much conversation about the acceptance of African religion, but it is my hopes to portray her messages of prostitution and women’s rights throughout the paper.

Prostitution

Hebe does not have an opposition to prostitution. For many women, prostitution is a means for supporting their family’s needs. Hebe thinks,

Today many women are free and choose this activity. It’s a necessity or an option. In Brazil its one professional activity recognized by the Ministry of Work and there’s no law to restrict it while practiced, freely, for adults. But when the women are forced (obliged) it is a criminal activity. Criminal organizations send women, men, and children to other nations for this activity. It’s forced work. Sexual tourism is another criminal practice in Brazil and all the situations are fought by the government but […] The criminal organization are very strong, and this involves much, much money! (Hebe).

There are laws set up in Brazil in order to protect not only women, men, and children forced to have sex, but to protect sex workers as well. Unfortunately, these laws do little to protect either of these groups. In a report on Brazil, it shows that approximately 75,000 women are sent from Brazil and forced to become prostitutes. Also, according to CERCIA (Centro de Referências, Estudos e Ações sobre Crianças e Adolescentes) Approximately 500,000 adolescent girls are forced into the sex industry in Brazil alone. Statistics show that many sex workers complain about being abused, however, very little is done.  As Hebe suggested, despite the laws put in place to counteract the violence against sex workers as well as sex trafficking of men, women and children, there is actually very little done. This could be because this criminal organization is very well organized and it is expensive to counteract.

To go even further, in a study done by Isabel Moreira, Professor at Faculdade Integral Differential and Claudete Monteiro, Professor at Universidade Federal do Piauí, it shows that there is a stigmatism of being a sex worker, which leads to various forms of violence. One prostitute in the study stated,” [...] he had sex with me and when he finished he took my money that I had already received from another client, took what he had given me, pushed me, hurt me, called me a slut [...]” (The violence in everyday of prostitution of women: invisibility and ambiguities). This statement illuminates the stigma of being a prostitute. Although many may feel that it is an option and many women choose this activity, it does not come without punishment. Sex workers are characterized as “sluts” and many other horrible names and are not protected by anyone. This leads to the possibility of being physically abused, called names, and not receiving funds for the activity.  In our conversation Hebe states, “In my opinion I think they aren’t protected by anyone not even by the government, especially those forced work” (Hebe).  This idea extends far beyond sex workers, however. Although not particularly for sex workers, 26 percent of Brazilians believe that women who wear provocative clothing deserve to be assaulted. Another 56 percent believe fewer rapes would happen if women “knew how to behave” (Life as a Brazilian Woman).  By having this state of mind, it reduces a woman to an object and subservient figure that so many women like Hebe C. Boa-Viagem a Costa have restlessly tried to combat.  

Women’s Rights

Hebe believes that women have come a long way but there is still a lot of work to be done. Things such as going to the university, choosing your own husband, and working outside the home have been accomplished by women who fought to eliminate the barrier between the equality of men and women. This is seen in the short story From woman to woman: Grandmother and Granddaughter are Having a Talk. The grandmother tells the granddaughter that she was born into a much better time. She explains that birthing a girl in old times brought disappointment to the father and grief to the mother for not giving her husband a son. It was disappointing because having a son in this time period allowed a lineage of the father’s name to continue through potential businesses and the possibility of a wonderful career. Her granddaughter now has the opportunity to pick the man she wants to marry and attend the university. She will also be able to have a career without the permission of a man.

The Church as well as the Lawyers Associations thought that the woman who worked did not take good care of her family and this would be dangerous. Being very emotive, they would not have conditions to judge the lawsuits. There was also a law that required their husband’s authorization to carry out the profession.  So, they did not have total independence, since the husband could, at any time; forbid them to work (Hebe 3).

Many women fight back against this custom. A woman worth mentioning, not only because Hebe mentions her in the short story, but also because she does not receive enough light for her sacrifices. This woman is Chiquinha Gonzaga. An article written by Paula Gandara, our Professor at Miami University, describes the life that Gonzaga endured.  

           Chiquinha Gonzaga was forced to marry at the age of sixteen-years-old by her father. She, however, ran away from her husband. Following this action, Chiquinha’s father cut off all ties with her and took her children away from her. Despite having all ties cut off with her family, she did not go into prostitution like many women felt they had to and became the first woman in history to be the only woman in an all men musical band. She also started receiving donations to buy slaves their freedom. Despite all of these remarkable accomplishments by Gonzaga, it would not be until 1984 when the truth would come out. Mariza Lira attempts to depict Gonzaga as the perfect Brazilian woman making direct connections to her Portuguese and Italian blood showing her father, Army Marshall Jose Baliseu Neves Gonzaga and a lineage that is depicted as heroic. She re-publishes the work of Gonzaga in 1978 where she dedicates it to Joao Baptista, “a true dedication to a son’s love” (Gandara 2). She also depicts Gonzaga as a woman who was a dedicated mother in need to feed her children, without any reference to her children being taken away from her. There is also no reference of the child that she had with Baptista, who we now know was her husband. She was also portrayed as the “Brazilian type” being that she was brunette and small with slightly curly dark hair. Gandara writes that this depiction of her life is a contradiction to reality because what she is glorified for is what condemns her. “It was her own will and desires that led her to choose her music career in detriment of her husband and children” (Gandara 4). Chiquinha Gonzaga, among many other women, sacrificed their entire lives and the acceptance of their families to live a life that is not dictated by way of a man. She was shunned and ignored not only by her father but also her community. The strength and perseverance of Gonzaga and many other women for a better life is what led to many of the changes that modern women in Brazil are privileged to have. Although there have been many accomplishments and advancements for women in Brazil, Hebe believes that the fight is not over and must continue. One such fight is to eliminate the gap in employment between men and women as well as the glass ceiling.

Despite there being a woman president in Brazil not much has changed for the advancement of women. In her article, “Life as a Brazilian Woman,” Vanessa Barbara states, “More than three years into the administration of President Dilma Rousseff, not much has changed for Brazilian women. Feminism is still often viewed as ridiculous extremism” (Life as a Brazilian Woman). Women are not making the same amount as their male colleagues although they are doing the same work as the men in their fields. Barbara goes on to say, “Also their salaries are higher than ours; I earn 35 to 50 percent less than my male colleagues, although we cannot say for sure it is a gender issue. Maybe it’s just lack of talent” (Life as a Brazilian Woman). Women are no less competent at doing the same job as men and are no less capable of learning. It is this mentality that allows the glass ceiling to continue and it is with great fight that this mentality is diminished. There are many women in Brazil who fall into the allure of this idea. Referencing back to the survey given in the prostitution section, a lot of those who feel women who dress provocatively deserve to be assaulted, are women. It is this idea that must be diminished for the sake of women in Brazil. Hebe believes this as well. Although not specifically stated, it is my idea that she does not agree with President Dilma. “Unhappily we haven’t luck in the election when chosen by vote the first woman for president. She isn’t representative of the Brazilian woman. There is still too much of a contrast between the woman who has less salary than the man. Therefore, the fight continues!” (Hebe). It seems as if this attitude towards Dilma is shared by many Brazilian women including Professor Paula Gândara who believes there needs to be a change for the sake of Brazilian women.

As stated before, in order to advance women in Brazil, the allure to the idea that men are superior beings must be deconstructed. Men are believed to be more competent and more intelligent than women. This idea must be combated and Hebe is among those who are in the fight. Not only seen through her life’s accomplishments; receiving multiple degrees, becoming an international award winning woman in painting, a national award winning woman in writing, becoming a member of multiple boards of education, etc.; it is seen through the short story of An Office Joke. Marina is characterized as a woman who is, “pretty, elegant, discreet and, above all, efficient. From routine tasks to the most complicated, she skillfully executed them all” (Hebe 77). Many of the people in the office loved Marina. She was not only elegant but also efficient in her tasks. A male colleague tells the story of a woman who found a lamp on the beach and rubbed it asking to be 100 times more intelligent than what she already was. The genie then turned her into a man. Marina elegantly responds with three ideas. The first, that it is only a joke. The second that the genie has spent much of his life in a lamp and is very outdated not knowing the advancements that women have made and the third being, “it’s incredible that on the verge of the third millennium, there are still people using such childish jokes to vaunt their masculinity. Perhaps, it’s because they still haven’t grown up sufficiently…” (Hebe 78) Through the elegance of Marina and the flow of the story, the reader sees how unsubstantiated the idea that that men are more competent and intelligent than women. Marina is depicted and celebrated as the one who is the best at what she does and loved in the office for it. She is also the one who so elegantly counteracts this idea that you need to be a man in order to be intelligent. Although this is a short story, it contributes to the battle of elevating women to the same playing field as men.

Hebe is also an advocate for not only taking one’s life in their own hands, but also embracing life as it comes, more particularly older men and women. Hebe states, “I am trying here to encourage older people, like myself, still realizing different untapped aspects of their potential. Like old age, youth is also a state of mind. Embrace challenges!” (Hebe). This seems to serve as a mediation between what we seen in Agda through Agda and her father. Agda’s father does not like to look at himself in the mirror and puts away all metal objects that reflect his image. He also tells Agda to, “Swallow the golden earth” (Hilst 135), in order to reverse her time to die of infancy instead of old age. Also, the doctor tells Agda to play classical music in order to ignore her old age. Hebe is counteracting this idea through showing that life is not over once you reach old age. She believes that you should not stop living life and accept new challenges by exploring the untapped potential that is inside. Subsequently, she is currently in Italy working on a new book with great anticipation to publish it in the near future.

Through Hebe C. Boa-Viagem a Costa, all women are shown that with great dedication and perseverance nothing is impossible. She has accomplished so much in her life from three degrees to teaching and retiring, award winning paintings, and award winning stories; she has not given up on life or accepted the route society has given her. She believes in the advancement of all women women’s agency. She encourages all women not to give up and to embrace new challenges as she has done throughout her entire life. I want to take the time to thank you, Hebe, for allowing me to speak with you about life in Brazil and I hope that I depicted your thoughts well. You are an encouragement to all women. Thank you for being you, from Pepsi Hunter and Alyssa Ponder.

Works Cited

Barbara, Vanessa. "Life as a Brazilian Woman." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Apr. 2014. Web. 12 May 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/opinion/barbara-life-as-a-brazilian-woman.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=OP_LAA_20140427&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1388552400000&bicmet=1420088400000&_r=3>.

Boa, C. Hebe. Experiences. Groupo Editorial Scortecci. Sao Paulo: Scortecci, 2014.

Gândara, Paula, "A Critical Reading of Chiquinha Gonzaga's Biography" (presented at "Chiquinha Gonzaga's Day" Celebrations, Miami Univ., 16th April 2014.

Hilst, Hilda, "Agda," 1973.(available in class resources Niihka)

Moreira, Isabel C., and Claudete Ferreira De Souza MonteiroI. "Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem - The Violence in Everyday of Prostitution of Women: Invisibility and Ambiguities." Scielo.bz. Scielo Brazil, Oct. 2012. Web. 11 May 2014. <http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-11692012000500018>