Maria Augusta Rui Barbosa for president

analysis of the column "the female government" by Leal de Souza in Careta Magazine

Abstract

On June 23, 1917, Leal de Souza wrote a short column for Careta Magazine, entitled The women's government. Throughout the single page, the journalist comments on a series of important and well-known women of his time who could occupy existing political positions, from the presidency and vice-presidency to roles in ministries, judiciaries, board positions and state and municipal positions, describing and proposing a management entirely carried out by women, that is, suggesting the existence of a female government. In this article, we intend to analyze the subject, the period in question – when women's suffrage was in vogue and was a topic in both everyday discussions and in the National Congress – who these women are, what was possible to discover about them, what motivated the choice of some of them for these positions and why Maria Augusta Rui Barbosa was chosen to be the president.