Daily Culture and the Modern Woman

Among the records found in the Paschoal Nardone Collection are scenes that reveal the daily social habits of middle-class women in modern Rio de Janeiro.

Indumentárias feminina e masculinaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Before achieving emancipation, middle-class women in Rio de Janeiro would walk through the streets in the company of male chaperones, namely their fathers, husbands, or brothers. The public space was the domain of men, while women were relegated to private spaces.

Avenida Rio BrancoGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

As far back as the 19th century, the colonial government had recognized the importance of educating the female population. Complementing this mentality, the 19th century also saw the first feminist advocacy groups emerge in Brazil.

Corte e costura do Instituto Profissional Feminino (1908-04-25)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Professional Institute for Females (Instituto Profissional Feminino), 1908


The elementary school, created by the government, offered girls formal and technical education. They learned cutting, sewing, typing, and cooking.

Químicas do Laboratório de Análise (1914-11-10)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

The "chemists", 1914

Founded in 1905, the Municipal Lab (Laboratório Municipal de Análises) had women among its employees by the middle of the second decade of the 20th century.

Women posing for the cameraGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Scenes and role-play

Photos of women in public and private spaces. The presence of a video camera at events leads to spontaneous role-playing among real characters.

Alunas da Escola Rivadávia CorreaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Students of the Rivadávia Correa School

Governed and run by women, the Professional Institute for Females (an exclusive day-school for women) became the Rivadávia Correa School in 1915.

Alunas da Escola Rivadávia CorreaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Dancers, November 11, 1923

During this period, urban habits among women were shaped by images from both emerging and entrenched new technologies, such as cinema. In turn, they also influenced the photographic and cinematographic records of that era.

Darcy Vargas na Escola Rivadávia Correa (1932)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Darcy Vargas at the Rivadávia Correa School, 1932

After the II International Women's Congress held in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Federation for Women's Progress gained the necessary support: in 1932 Getúlio Vargas signed the decree granting women the optional right to vote.

Profile views of womenGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

In this slide we see two women filmed against a black background, which contrasts with their movements.

Alunas da Escola Rivadávia CorreaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City

Rivadavia Correa School, n.d.

With a historical trajectory in public education in Rio de Janeiro, this was the second educational institution dedicated to women.

Credits: Story

Mayor of Rio de Janeiro
Eduardo Paes

Secretary of State
Eduardo Cavaliere

General Archive of the City of Rio de Janeiro
Rosa Maria Araujo

Documentation Center
Maria Thereza Fonseca

Curators
Conrado Werneck Pimentel and Suzane Mayer

Editing
Conrado Werneck Pimentel

Historical research
Conrado Werneck Pimentel, Suzane Mayer and Yanara Galvão (LUPA-UFF)

Proofreading
Pedro Paulo Malta

Interns
Marcelle Araujo Lins and Luísa da Costa de Oliveira

Film digitization
LUPA/UFF - University Laboratory for Audiovisual Preservation

ReferencesA construção da imagem da “mulher moderna” no início do século XX no cinema e na imprensa
Tatiana Castro de Carvalho 
A segunda escola profissional para o sexo feminino (Rivadávia Corrêa) do Distrito Federal ou a trajetória de sua diretora–Benevenuta Ribeiro (1913-1961).
Nailda Marinho da Costa Bonato
Lélia Gonzalez: caminhos e reflexões antirracistas e antissexistas.
Projeto Memória

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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Rio de Janeiro: City of Culture
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