Carnival Group in Rio Protests Against Sexism and Gender Inequality

02/19/2015 - 09h47

The Carnival group "Mulheres Rodadas" ("Loose Women") paraded for the first time on Wednesday (18) in Rio, using the event to highlight sexism and gender inequality.

With hula-hoops, stilts and a lot of glitter, both men and women participated in the parade.

The idea came about at the end of 2014.

The journalists Renata Rodrigues, 38, and Débora Thome, 37, were inspired by an article by Folha columnist Mariliz Pereira Jorge criticizing a young man who carried a placard which read, "I don't deserve a loose woman."

Rodrigues and Thome contacted Pereira Jorge, and the Carnival group was born. "The idea is to make an upbeat protest", says Rodrigues.

Pereira Jorge accompanied the parade.

"This came about because of a bad joke by a young man, but today we're here enjoying ourselves and bringing the cause to the streets", she said.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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	Caio Lima/Folhapress
	A carnival group in Rio protests against sexism and gender inequality