Iyalodês: The Power of the Legacy of Black Women in the Everyday Political Struggle in Brazil

• In Event: Feminist eco-ethics

Description for Program

This presentation explores the legacy of the Iyalodê, a title from Afro-Brazilian traditions that
symbolizes women’s political power and resistance, as a framework for addressing the
underrepresentation of black women in Brazilian institutional politics. Despite systemic racism,
sexism, and violence—including the political feminicide of Marielle Franco—black women
continue to resist through ancestral and everyday strategies. Drawing on studies in

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communication and everyday life, this research proposes that the political communication
strategies of black women, inspired by the Iyalodês, offer pathways for rethinking democracy in
Brazil. This study underscores the survival of black women’s agency in confronting patriarchal
and Eurocentric systems, aligning with the panel’s focus on cultural resistance and territoriality.

Author

• Monique Paulla, Federal Fluminense University