Abstract
This article presents non-Portuguese readers with developments regarding studies on the intersection between feminism and behavior analysis conducted in Brazil, focusing on two concepts: empowerment and rape culture. Empowerment is described as a process in which women acquire novel behavioral repertoires that are related to changing aversive contexts that are dependent on their gender. Rape culture is defined as a set of contingencies that endorse or permit sexually abusive behaviors in a patriarchal context. Thus, the differential reinforcement of behaviors emitted by men and women leads to stereotypical male or female repertoires, and to male domination over women. The implications of these topics are discussed, as well as some barriers that are encountered by Brazilian feminists. Finally, suggestions are made for future research aimed at reducing gender and other inequalities.
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Acknowledgments and funding
Táhcita Mizael was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the São Paulo Research Foundation (Grant 2020/02548-7) and also by the scientific program of the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia sobre Comportamento, Cognição e Ensino (INCT-ECCE), supported by CNPq (Grants 573972/2008-7 and 465686/2014-1) and FAPESP (Grants 2008/57705-8 and 2014/50909-8).
Author Note
I would like to thank all the women fighting to live in a place with more equity. I especially would like to thank Professor Deisy das Graças de Souza, who is a personal inspiration, and Dr. Ana Arantes, for being probably the first lecturer in my academic life to speak openly about feminism and the relation of science to ideology. I also would like to thank Renata Pinheiro for the partnership in the book Debates on Feminism and Behavior Analysis.
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Mizael, T.M. Behavior Analysis and Feminism: Contributions From Brazil. Behav. Soc. Iss. 30, 481–494 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-021-00067-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-021-00067-x