Perspectives on Black Feminism in Salvador, Bahia

Abstract

In Brazil, black women are symbolically associated with domestic work. In Salvador, they generally occupy the most lowly place in the socio-economic hierarchy. The article examines feminist responses to this situation. Responses include proposals to introduce affirmative action and a politics of presence that supports the election of black women to represent the black female constituency. The article describes the racial dynamics between black and white feminists in Bahia, showing the contradictory tendencies structuring the relationship. It highlights different influences on the ideas and proposals of the Bahian feminists. Finally, through a detailed and micro-historical examination of distinct feminist discourses and the contexts in which they are used, the article contests the notion that a ´politics of identity ` necessarily leads to new essentialism of race or culture..