Working Paper 17: Marcha das Margaridas 2023: alimentação, mobilização social e feminismos

Abstract

This work presents the data collected in the research “Marcha das Margaridas 2023: Food, Social Mobilization, and Feminisms,” conducted from August 15 to 16, 2023, by the Research Group Food for Justice: Power, Politics, and Food Inequalities in a Bioeconomy, based at the Heidelberg University. This research aimed to understand the social composition and perception of people who participated in the Marcha das Margaridas 2023 on the themes of food, social mobilization, and feminisms. The survey revealed a predominantly female participation (85.4%), with a balanced age distribution among adults (about 50%), youth (about 25%), and elderly (about 25%). In racial terms, approximately three-quarters of participants identified as black [negras], with a predominance of brown [pardas] (about 50%) and black [pretas] (almost 30%). The majority declared themselves heterosexual (about 75%) and Catholic (64%). The study shows a high educational profile, with more than 65% of participants having completed high school or attended higher education. The geographical distribution showed a higher concentration of participants from the Northeast region, followed by the Southeast, with a certain balance between urban and rural residents. In socio-economic terms, approximately 55% of respondents have a per capita income of up to one minimum wage, with Bolsa Família (approximately 33%) and retirement/pension (about 30%) being the most accessed social benefits. In terms of work and production, almost half of the participants had paid work, mainly in the public sector, private sector, or as family farmers. The study also revealed a strong concentration of domestic and care work among the women interviewed (about 70%). Remarkably, 47% of respondents reported involvement in food cultivation or animal husbandry, with significant adoption of agroecological practices (38.2%). Regarding the political-ideological profile, 66.6% of participants identified as left-wing, with 87.8% declaring a vote for Lula in the second round of the 2022 elections. The majority participated in the Marcha das Margaridas 2023 through the Rural Workers’ Union Movement (61%), identifying mainly as family farmers (35.8%), urban workers (29.1%), or rural workers (25.1%). The main struggle banners pointed out were women’s rights (27.8%), land issues and agrarian reform (19%), and social policies (13.9%). Notably, 40.3% of respondents declared themselves fully feminist, while 26.2% identified as partially feminist.