A luta política pelo direito de jogar futebol: o futebol de mulheres da proibição à transição democrática

Abstract

Women's football was banned in Brazil by Vargas in 1941, on the grounds that it was incompatible with “female nature”. The ideology of the time was that certain sporting practices harmed women's bodies, preventing them from being mothers, a social function of women that the state should protect. Although it wasn't until 1979 that the sport was allowed again, women's soccer remained underground. During the process of democratic transition, the athletes' struggle joined the fight for democracy, with political personalities playing an important role in putting pressure on the state structure, with the aim of ensuring the fall of the ban and the dictatorship, as well as creating the basis for professionalization. This paper used bibliographical and documentary research as methods for finding information on the subject, weaving together the socio-historical context of this group that sought to become a professional organization.