A situação das mulheres na educação profissional de nível médio: uma análise dos dados do censo escolar 2001 a 2006

Abstract

The present study seeks to provide an overview of the situation of women in Professional Education in Brazil, in Minas Gerais and in Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area. The quantitative and qualitative research presents a critical analysis of the data available in the Censo Escolar da Educação Profissional for the years of 2001-2006. Documentary research methodology has been applied as a means of determining and interpreting the milestones in Brazilian education and their influence in the access and presence of women in Professional Education. The study offers a better understanding of womens presence/absence in this education modality by seeking to identify the areas in which they are concentrated and by relating these findings to womens emancipation movement and their insertion in public spaces. The historical review presented makes it clear that women have advanced in society after they have acquired the right of attending school, entered the labor market and started participating in national politics. However, it is shown that challenges remain, especially for black and low-income women. Data analysis has pointed to a progressive expansion of Professional Education from 2001-2006 in the three areas studied, both in the increase of schools and enrolment number. Women have been a part of this expansion as a balance in male and female enrolment numbers has shown. This fact, however, does not necessarily imply a change in gender relations, as women continue to be concentrated in traditionally female areas, which also happen to be less valuable in social terms. A general conclusion of this study is that divisions among men and women clearly persist as far as their distribution along areas of Professional Education is concerned. These divisions bear cultural standards and values related to the roles that men and women play in society.