A discussion of the experiences of three Brazilian women in Portugal and the ideals of freedom and democracy

Abstract

We are three Brazilian women researchers who undertook the Advanced Scientific Doctoral Internship at the Child Studies Research Centre of the University of Minho, Braga, Portugal, and this paper arises from that six-month period, spent under the supervision of Professor PhD Fernando Ilídio da Silva Ferreira. Using an experience report as a qualitative method to provide reference data, our goal is to carry out a meaning-making analysis based on what we experienced, revealing the potential for new theoretical constructions within the socio-historical context of Portugal, as seen through our perspectives and learning. For this work, we selected everyday scenes that we have experienced in Portugal, and in our daily interactions with children, essentially seeking to understand signs of freedom and democracy in the 49 years since the 25th of April Revolution. In the text, we discuss issues such as the safety and freedom of women in public spaces, the role of the state and civil society in promoting gender equality, and the importance of childhood in building a democratic society. We highlight the complexity of the experience we have each had of being a foreign woman in a country that has a history marked by struggles for rights and democracy. At the same time, we recognize the challenges and contradictions still present, such as the persistence of gender-based violence. In summary, we conclude that freedom is a continuous achievement that requires struggle and resistance.