2024 Theses Master's

From Nature to Women's Bodies: Examining Violence against Women in the Brazilian Amazon, and the Case of Marajó

Basso Fiuza, Vanessa

This study examines the human rights violations underpinning the pervasive gender-based violence (GBV) affecting women in the Brazilian Amazon, a region Identified as the epicenter of such violence in Brazil. Through a qualitative approach, I analyze academic literature, reports from organizations like the World Bank, Igarapé Institute, Wilson Center, and Brazilian national data to better understand and hypothesize why GBV levels in the Brazilian Amazon are so extreme.

The research focuses on the unique socio-environmental dynamics of the region that exacerbate violence, exploring how gender, identity, race, and class intersect. The 2024 song “Evangelho de Fariseus,” which denounces human rights and environmental violations in the Amazon and draws attention to the exploitation and disappearance of children in Marajó, serves as a key case study.

Together, the disturbing dynamics of the region and the song drawing popular attention to it they illustrate the severe impact of systemic state neglect and poverty on women and girls in this region. A distinctive feature of this work is the integration of the Ecofeminist theory, linking environmental degradation to women’s rights violations. The analysis suggests that deforestation and the exploitation of natural resources mirror the exploitation of women, perpetuating cycles of violence and inequality. Key findings reveal how historical inequalities, structural poverty, and environmental destruction converge to exacerbate GBV in the region.

The study concludes with actionable recommendations, advocating for community-based solutions, strengthened legal frameworks, and ecofeminist strategies to empower women as agents of change. It also underscores the critical need for addressing GBV in the Amazon, recognizing the intrinsic connections between protecting the environment and safeguarding human rights.