Women in politics: Janja’s challenges against sexism in Lula’s government

Marcela Leiros – From Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – In recent weeks, much has been debated about the participation of the future first lady of Brazil, Rosangela da Silva, better known as Janja, in the construction of the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

The active presence of Janja, even influencing the choice of ministers, yielded criticism from allies of the president-elect. To CENARIUM MAGAZINE, representatives of organizations dedicated to defending women’s rights analyzed that the sociologist will still face a lot of sexism.

Janja is 56 years old, is a sociologist and joined the PT when she was 17. She has a degree in Social Sciences and an MBA in Social Management and Sustainability. She also specialised in History at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR).

In November, right after the results of the presidential election, the tag “Respect Janja” was among the most talked about topics on Twitter after comments made by journalist Eliane Cantanhêde during the GloboNews program “Em Pauta”.

She criticised Rosângela Lula da Silva’s position in the transition office. “She was sitting there, but she is not president of the PT, she is not a political leader, she is not party president, so why was she there? What was the role of the first lady?” the commentator questioned.

The president of the Brazilian Union of Women (UBM), Vanja Andrea, points out that the questions raised against Janja’s position are from people who do not defend the role of women in politics. For her, facing the sexist criticism will be the first challenge of the future first lady.

“The first [challenge] is to face this sexist construction, which is social, which is cultural. These are the first challenges that she is already facing and in the sequence will come others. ‘You shouldn’t speak, you should shut up’. This issue of patriarchy, of sexism, and of not doing this, not doing that, which she is facing today, she will face more firmly later on”, she explains.

Vanja also points out that the behaviour of the sociologist is unconventional for what is expected of a first lady, something necessary for the present day. “Today, the figure of Janja becomes an example of ruptures with these conventional, patriarchal, sexist standards that we have been used to seeing in society, in these political representations”, she stresses.

Political influence

Janja’s influence in the government’s transition has already borne fruit. According to press reports, the sociologist was involved in the choice of singer Margareth Menezes as head of the Ministry of Culture. The artist tried to put forward the name of Zulu Araújo as the ministry’s executive secretary, according to Folhapress, but the preferred candidate was historian Márcio Tavares, the PT’s national secretary for culture, who was supported by Rosângela da Silva.

The French weekly magazine L’Express did a story on Janja. She was singled out as someone who played a decisive role in the Petista’s victory and who should continue to be active in the new government. “Rosângela da Silva, the future first lady, will not play a figurative role alongside the one who, at 77, remains a star in politics”, wrote the report.

First Ladyism

Nágyla Drumond, a national women’s rights adviser, said that Janja is a young and vigorous figure who already has a history of academic training and social activism, something that could change the image of first ladies in Brazil. She also states that the first lady will be “tested”.

“The first challenge is for her to establish herself as a thinking person, as a proud woman, who is the companion of the greatest leader this country has ever built. I think that first of all she does need to establish herself. She will be tested day by day, from the clothes she wears, what she says to the press, to the work she will do in the new government. And the inauguration will be her first test of fire”, she concludes.

Janja is the coordinator of the group that organizes the inauguration of the president-elect and all the details of Lula’s inauguration ceremony are closely followed by her. On Wednesday 21st, Janja and a team visited the National Congress to check all the itinerary of the event. The inauguration will take place on January 1st.