Movimento Feminista Na Bahia

I could not have asked for a better host mother than Luciana, she is currently writing her dissertation on Feminism and Gender Roles. On July 7th, She invited me to a one-woman play called “Tudo Que Vocé Precisa é Amor” or “All you need is Love”.  The play, which was a satire comedy, depicted the physical and emotional violence that women go through, from abortions to rape to mental illness and even abandonment all done by the

wonderful Felicia De Castro. The play was spoken in Portuguese… obviously, considering it is the language of the land, and although I was not totally aware of what De Castro was saying, I could feel the emotion and pain as I watched Felicia portray the journey of a young women’s pain and often times silenced triumph into adulthood.

Throughout the play, Felicia would go out to the audience and solicit volunteers to help demonstrate various acts throughout the play. Well… you guessed it, I was called and instead of making up excuses I took this opportunity to feel the freedom and exploration that Bahia has to offer. See my pictures below that my wonderful host mom Luciana proudly took of me. I was surrounded by other women and I felt empowered and impactful. It was a painfully beautiful sight to see as many of the audience, mostly whom were  women, cried throughout the play. The tears could have been from identifying with the struggles and discomfort of witnessing Felicia De Castro’s journey, or grieving the loss of a friend.  For instance, Luciana was grieving the loss of a friend. This friend was none other than Brazilian Feminist Hero, Marielle Franco, an Afro-Brazilian who was gunned down last year (2018) for her activism with women and favela dwellers. Franco’s death shifted the paradigm of the movimento feminista na Bahia towards women fighting stronger and harder to be heard; and in remembrance of Marielle. Sitting in such a safe space where I had the opportunity to witness, as well as feel, vulnerable, loved, heard and cared for, made me realize the global impact that the feminist movement has cultivated. We continue to fight for women whose plight is often unnoticed and untold. Tudo Que Vocé Precisa é Amor

Obrigada!!