Prohibited from the Field: The Long Road to Equality in Brazilian Football

The World Cup has ignited a fervent atmosphere, with fans gathering for watch parties and participating in office pools. This enthusiasm for football recently brought to mind an episode from the Spanish Netflix series "Machos Alfa," which humorously tackles gender relations. In one scene, characters discuss how male football players earn more because the market values the sport more than the women's game. This intuitive justification, that men's football attracts larger audiences, sponsorships, and revenue, is widely accepted.

However, the relevant question is understanding why these disparities emerged and persist. Football's arrival in Brazil is traditionally dated to 1894, with Charles Miller introducing the rules and equipment. The Paulista Football League was established in 1901, and the first national team formed in 1914. Initially an elite sport, football gradually broadened its reach, with professionalization occurring in the 1930s. Women, meanwhile, remained largely excluded from this process.

According to Carmen Rial and Caroline Almeida, a smear campaign against women's football, including media coverage, occurred in 1940. Carlota Resende, founder of the Primavera club, was even detained on charges of pimping. Amid this hostile environment, Getúlio Vargas signed decree-law 3.199 in 1941, prohibiting women from playing football, citing incompatibility with their "nature." This restriction was reinforced in 1965 by deliberation No. 7 of the National Sports Council. The prohibition was only lifted in 1979, with official regulation finally occurring in 1983.

The stark difference in development timelines, the first men's national team in 1914 versus the women's team over seven decades later, has had a significant impact. This historical gap helps explain some of today's disparities. Men's football had considerably more time to establish itself. It is only recently that we have become accustomed to seeing female commentators, referees, and linespeople in competitions. Furthermore, the salary gap between professional male and female footballers remains substantial, particularly at the highest levels. The article also poses a question about whether the women's game could become more dynamic with a smaller field, noting that rules were defined based on men's football and the sport remains largely male-dominated, potentially introducing bias.

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Male football players earn more because the market values this sport more than the women's.