Gênero e Poder no STF: obstáculos sociais à participação feminina na Suprema Corte

Abstract

This research aims to describe and analyze what the academic literature show about the low representation of women in the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF), focusing on the social factors that contribute to their underrepresentation. The study adopts an exploratory approach, based on a systematic literature review using the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (BDTD) and the CAPES Journal Portal. It also incorporates documentary research (journalistic sources) to examine the professional trajectories of the three women who have served on the STF—Ellen Gracie, Rosa Weber, and Cármen Lúcia—seeking to identify the main challenges they faced in reaching high-ranking judicial positions. The findings indicate that female participation in the Court remains limited by structural and cultural barriers. The literature review reveals divergent views on the STF’s role in promoting gender equality and underscores the scarcity of academic studies on the presence of women in the Court. The study concludes that, while the appointment of female justices represents progress, it does not eliminate gender inequalities, highlighting the need to expand academic debate and implement policies to promote gender equity within the judiciary. This research was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) through a Scientific Initiation Scholarship (IC) during the period 2022–2024, under project number 408404/2022- 1.