Paulo Baldaia, in the Expresso da Manhã program, spoke with journalist Margarida Nogueira about a topic that has generated controversy in the traditions of Miranda do Douro. The central question concerns the struggle of women who want to be recognized as pauliteiras, that is, participants in traditional dances that were historically predominantly male.
Margarida Nogueira wrote in Expresso magazine about the resistances these women face when trying to integrate into these traditions. However, the journalist also identified surprising supports that emerged from unexpected places, indicating that not all opposition comes from the most traditional sectors.
The conversation in the program addressed what Baldaia called a "new battle of the sexes" in the context of Mirandese traditions. This phenomenon arises at a time when various traditional cultural manifestations in Portugal are being reevaluated in light of gender and equality issues.
The debate reveals tensions between the preservation of ancestral cultural practices and the struggle for equal participation of women in these identity expressions. The case of Miranda do Douro illustrates how local traditions can become symbolic battlegrounds for broader questions about the role of women in society.
