Affirmative Action in the Brazilian Higher Education System

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12797/AdAmericam.17.2016.17.07

Keywords:

Brazil, education system, affirmative action, racism, racial relations

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of affirmative action in the Brazilian system of higher education, which is aimed at benefitting Afro- Brazilians suffering from the legacy of structural racism and economic inequality. The authors will highlight some of the problems linked to the racial quota system, and demonstrate that its implementation is deeply hindered by several factors, such as traditional denial of existing racial prejudice in Brazilian society, a lack of precise, normative definitions of eligibility for programs, failure of pre-university public education to properly prepare students for university-level academics, and – last but not least – a lack of sufficient support from academic institutions. The article will present both quantitative and qualitative data that show the expectations, doubts, and fears of the Brazilian academic environment with regard to the racial quota system. After a review of Brazil’s racial history and an analysis of students’ and professors’ opinions, the authors will argue that, in order for colored citizens to become fully integrated into Brazilian society, they must first be legally enabled to overcome social, educational, and economic obstacles and handicap.

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Author Biographies

Anna Chojnowska, University of Warsaw, Poland

possesses a BA in French Philology, and an MA in CESLA Cultural Latin American Studies from the University of Warsaw. During her master’s studies she participated in the Master Internacional en Estudios Latinoamericanos program at the Institute of Latin American Studies (IHEAL) of the New Sorbonne University in Paris. Currently not formally affiliated, she is working on her doctoral dissertation.

Renata Siuda-Ambroziak, University of Warsaw, Poland

(affiliation: CESLA, University of Warsaw) has a Ph.D. in Social Philosophy, an MA in Iberian and Ibero-American studies. She is a Latin Americanist specializing in Brazilian studies. Her major fields of research interest include Brazilian society, culture, and politics. Currently, she is the vice-director for didactics and student affairs at the interdisciplinary Institute of the Americas and Europe, University of Warsaw.

References

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Published

2016-12-30

How to Cite

Chojnowska, A., and R. Siuda-Ambroziak. “Affirmative Action in the Brazilian Higher Education System”. Ad Americam, vol. 17, Dec. 2016, pp. 95-107, doi:10.12797/AdAmericam.17.2016.17.07.

Issue

Vol. 17 (2016)

Section

Focus on: Latin American Studies

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Copyright (c) 2016 Anna Chojnowska, Renata Siuda-Ambroziak

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