Rescuing and
Valuing the Woman
FRONT ROW
project
Raphaele Godinho
Like in many other
countries, it is not
easy being born in
Brazil. The Human
Development Index
(HDI) of the country
is at 0.754.
It had two presidents
in less than four
years and is known
internationally for
its corruption.
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Change Magazine September 2017 www.changemag-diinsider.com
Growing up in Brazil is even harder.
Towns in the countryside have
many conservative values and
because of this, most people are
always against new ideas. As a
result, these conservative values
influence young people so they
start believing in them too.
Living in this country is like
watching horror movies. I am
currently 17 years old and I see my
older classmates leave school to
marry, work, or have kids before
finishing high school. When we
grow up listening that girls are
destined to cook, clean the house,
and take care of everyone for the
rest of our lives, some of us start
to believe that it is true. I have
noticed this phenomenon to occur
gradually when I was fifteen. My
friends started getting pregnant
and wearing engagement rings,
when they were uncertain if
they will ever graduate. At first, I
thought it was normal but I realized
that there must be some mistake.
Why is it that my friends are this
way?
I grew up with books and strong
women. I was aware of my
future condition as a woman
and my current condition as a
girl in society. I was sure that if
I didn’t have enough strength
and inspiration, I probably would
follow the same path as those
girls and end up being a frustrated
housewife. I do not mean that
www.changemag-diinsider.com Change Magazine September 2017
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