Women's Empowerment and Disempowerment in Brazil

Pedro A. G. dos Santos is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in Minnesota. He has two main areas of research in Brazilian politics: women’s representation in the legislative and executive, and the rise of evangelical politicians in the country. He has published various book chapters as well as journal articles in Latin American Politics and Society, Politics & Gender, and OpiniÃo PÚblica.  Farida Jalalzai is Associate Dean of Global Initiatives and Engagement in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and Professor of Political Science at Virginia Tech. She is the author of Shattered, Cracked, or Firmly Intact: Women and the Executive Glass Ceiling Worldwide, Women Presidents of Latin America: Beyond Family Ties? and  co-editor of Measuring  Women's Political Empowerment Across the Globe.

"[T]he the most definitive, empirically rich, and thought-provoking analysis to date of gender’s role throughout Rousseff’s campaigns, administrations, and impeachment.... dos Santos and Jalalzai provide a fascinating, comprehensive account of gender’s role in the rise and fall of one of the most important female presidencies in the world. This accessible book contributes to politics and gender research, which traditionally has focused on issues of representation and women in legislative politics."-Perspectives on Politics "[A] detailed account of Rousseff’s trajectory and tenure. Focusing on this case, they contribute to research on whether and how a woman president empowers other women in politics and society.... The book’s contribution to the understanding of Rousseff’s terms and the recent Brazilian political crisis is undeniable."-Politics and Gender "[A] comprehensive analysis.... [T]he authors offer a thorough account of Rousseff’s rise to power, subsequent removal from office, and the implications that this process had for policymaking and women’s political gains in Brazil.... dos Santos and Jalalzai provide a crucial contribution to understanding contemporary political processes in Brazil. The book also delivers a careful analysis of the multiple ways gender norms generate barriers for women in politics."-Gender and Society "In this exceptionally well‐executed study of Brazil’s first woman president, Dilma Rousseff (2011–2016), Pedro A.G. dos Santos and Farida Jalalzai...make important contributions to the literature on women national leaders and violence against women in politics.... [They] provide a fascinating analysis of Rousseff’s efforts to empower women and the punitive challenges she faced."-Political Science Quarterly "This tightly focused case study meticulously analyzes how former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff impacted women’s empowerment.... [T]he authors’ impressive references will be useful for readers interested in women in politics generally.... dos Santos and Jalalzai deploy a sophisticated framework to assess Rousseff’s appointments, select policies, and symbolism. Their nuanced conclusion contends that despite the impeachment setback and formidable residuals of sexism and misogyny, the repercussions of a female executive were overall positive for women’s political advancement.... Summing Up: Recommended."-Choice “Dos Santos and Jalalzai’s impressive book breaks new ground by employing a women’s political empowerment approach to the election and governing of Brazil’s first female president, Dilma Rousseff. Their careful and thorough analysis shows that Rousseff empowered women more than any of her male predecessors or successors. Their book, the most comprehensive analysis of Rousseff’s presidency to date, is a fascinating and accessible read. It makes a compelling case for Rousseff’s presidency as beneficial to women. It is a must read for gender scholars and Latin Americanists.”-Leslie Schwindt-Bayer, Professor of Political Science at Rice University, and editor of Gender and Representation in Latin America “In Women’s Empowerment and Disempowerment in Brazil, dos Santos and Jalalzai have made an important contribution to our knowledge of women in high executive office. Their insightful, in-depth analysis, based on detailed empirical research conducted over nearly a decade, explores not only Dilma Rousseff’s career, from her pathway to office to her impeachment, but also analyzes to what extent Rousseff could empower women through appointment and policymaking, and as a symbol. This book will be enormously useful to all those studying gender politics in Brazil, Latin America, and more broadly.”-Georgina Waylen, Professor of Politics at the University of Manchester, and editor of Gender, Institutions, and Change in Bachelet's Chile