11 Brazilian women who stood out for being ahead of their time

Despite the many obstacles, there are several women who occupy prominent places in the history of our Brazil and who must never be forgotten! Whether for her numerous contributions to dramaturgy, as is the case of actress Fernanda Montenegro, or to Medicine, with Nise da Silveira, or even to the business sector, with Luiza Helena Trajano (Magazine Luiza).

Today the incredible.club will tell you a little more about these women who were always ahead of their time and who broke standards in the environment in which they were inserted!

Chiquinha Gonzaga dared — and a lot! Born in 1847, in Rio de Janeiro, this incredible woman was not afraid to face a society in which women’s rights were still extremely restricted. In order to dedicate herself to music and also live a new love, she decided to leave her husband and, consequently, a life full of privileges.

Chiquinha faced many prejudices at the time, but it seems that it was all worth it: she composed themes like Ó abre alas, which certainly brought elements of Brazilian music as we know it today. Chiquinha was one of the first women to make a professional living from music in the country. In addition to music, she also engaged in social causes throughout her life, and worked diligently for the abolition of slavery. Her story is so rich that, in 1999, Rede Globo aired a miniseries to honor this empowered and revolutionary woman.

Tarsila do Amaral came from a wealthy family in São Paulo, which gave her the opportunity to study abroad while still in her teens — at age 16, Tarsila went to Europe to study painting. From then on, she became something of a “pathfinder”. She has been to several countries and studied a lot! The painter became known for highlighting, in her work, popular aspects, landscapes and typically Brazilian traits, in addition, of course, to the ills of our country.

In addition to exploring new possibilities in painting, Tarsila did not hesitate to leave behind an unhappy marriage (this was in the 1920s) or to experience new loves, such as, for example, with the writer Oswald de Andrade. Her most famous painting, Abaporu (1928)🇧🇷 a milestone for the Modernist Movement in Brazil, and many other works can be seen here.

Ruth de Souza passed away in 2019, but left a great legacy! The actress from Rio de Janeiro, born in 1921, is known as the first black lady of the theater, having debuted at the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro, less than 60 years after the abolition of slavery. From there, she landed prominent roles and got a Scholarship to study Performing Arts at Harvard, having gone through some other American institutions as well. Throughout her life, she built a long curriculum in theater, cinema and television, contributing enormously to the representativeness of the black figure in dramaturgy and society as a whole.

Nise da Silveira was a revolutionary psychiatrist, responsible for humanizing treatment in psychiatric centers. Born in 1905 in the city of Maceió, she studied at the Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, being the only woman among the graduates. At a time when psychiatric patients were confined and treated in a questionable way, Nise saw in art a way to rehabilitate many people affected by mental illness.

was the creator of “Museum of Images of the Unconscious”having also been a pioneer in research on the effects of the relationship between patients and pets, in addition to being the first professional in the area to use Jungian psychology in Brazil.

In 2015, his story ended up in the movies. Directed by Roberto Berliner and starring none other than Glória Pires, the film Nise: The Heart of Madness narrates important moments in the life of the psychiatrist recognized worldwide for her work.

Cora Coralina, pseudonym of Ana Lins dos Guimarães Peixoto Bretas, was born in Goiás, in 1889. When the time came for her to attend school, her parents decided that she would be educated at home. Cora, then, attended only the first years of elementary school. The most curious thing is that the renowned writer published her first short story when she was just 14 years old and divided her life between the profession of confectionery and her work in the world of letters. Only at the age of 76 did she decide to publish her writings for the first time (Poems from the Alleys of Goiás and more stories🇧🇷

Dercy Gonçalves didn’t mince words and will be forever remembered for his outstanding personality on camera and behind them for his iconic phrases! But, more than that, the carioca born in 1907, who emerged from a humble childhood and launched herself at Teatro de Revista, established herself as one of the most important names in improvised theater in Brazil.

Dercy left us in 2008, at the age of 101, but she “stamped” good memories on the public and was not afraid to show what she came to, even in a period when women artists were frowned upon by society — even more so in the case of comedians. The “atrevida” became a plot theme for the Viradouro samba school, in the early 1990s.

Singer Maysa has always impressed everyone with her music and also with her transgressive attitude. Born in the mid-1930s, in the city of São Paulo, the artist used to sing her songs at family gatherings. Shortly after marrying André Matarazzo, an important businessman, at the age of 18, she released her first album. And there began their conflicts. The husband did not allow the singer’s face to be shown at work and only agreed that she used the song as a form of charity.

Over time, she decided to take charge of her own life and start a professional career, which caused the end of her marriage. Like any divorced woman at the time, Maysa faced many problems, but she managed to excel in music and helped bring Brazilian art to the world, having been the first Brazilian singer to perform on Japanese television. Her life turned into the miniseries Maysa — When the heart speaksdirected by his only son, Jayme Monjardim.

Hebe Camargo shone on TV! The paulista, born in 1929, began her career as a radio singer and has a direct relationship with the very beginning of the history of television. When the equipment to start the Tupi Network (first television network in Brazil) arrived, Hebe was one of the guests to pick them up. In addition, the multifaceted artist was also part of the first live broadcast. She was also at the head of the first female TV program, in 1955, called The World is for Women🇧🇷

Hebe’s dynamism and irreverence led her to present the homonymous program that remained on the air for almost 40 years! Throughout her career, the presenter has always made a point of exposing her opinions, even if it brought her some headaches from time to time. A few years after leaving us, Hebe received quite an honor when her story invaded the big screen with the film Hebe: The Star of Brazil🇧🇷

Rita Lee, the most beloved rocker in Brazil and now retired from the stage, produced an unquestionable work! Born in the 1940s, this woman from São Paulo has always shown, through her songs, her scenic performance at shows and also her posture offstage, that a woman’s place is wherever she wants! Alongside Os Mutantes and Gilberto Gil, Rita Lee caused a stir at TV Record’s 3rd Popular Brazilian Music Festival (1967) by introducing the guitar once and for all to our MPB and performing with a look peculiar.

Although she no longer performs, she is still active on social media and has provided us with great literary works, such as the bestseller Rita Lee: An Autobiography and the children’s books he has published.

Luiza Helena Trajano is considered one of the most important businesswomen in the country. When she was given the responsibility of running the family business, in the 1990s, Magazine Luiza was a chain of stores in the countryside. The company’s incredible growth was only possible because of its innovative vision. Among many other accomplishments, the businesswoman bet on the computerization of the business even at a time when the Internet was still in its infancy and, not by chance, created the first virtual store model in Brazil. But that’s not all: the company is known for giving employees space and supporting women. Luiza is president of the group women from Brazilwhich aims to promote actions in pursuit of racial and gender equality.

Fernanda Montenegro has history! By the way, did you know that her name is actually Arlette Pinheiro Esteves da Silva? Born in 1929, in Rio de Janeiro, Fernanda began her career on the radio at a very young age and already in the early 1950s she made her debut in the theater. Recognition came soon after, with the play The Moratorium. Since then, the actress has built an enviable resume. With his memorable performance in the film Central do Brasil (1998), was the first and to date only Brazilian actress nominated for an Oscar. Her performance in mother’s candy (2012) earned her an International Emmy for Best Actress. Despite all her status as an actress, Fernanda is also acclaimed for always showing humility and respect for everyone.

And so, what did you think of the life stories of the fearless and obstinate women shown in the post? If you were to make your own list of inspiring Brazilian women, what would it be like? Tell us in the comments 🙂