The article addresses the movement "Mulheres Conservadoras de Portugal" (MCP), presented through a podcast by Tereza Nogueira Pinto who interviewed Rita Matias, a militant of the Chega party, and Rute Sousa, an influencer known for TikTok. The movement emerged with the objective of defending the traditional role of women in society, positioning itself against feminism.
The MCP is mainly composed of women linked to the Chega, CDS and PSD parties, as well as members of the Brazilian evangelical church that supports Bolsonaro. Among the prominent figures are Chega deputies Cláudia Estevão and Madalena Lorena Gato, an online content creator, and founder Rebeca Batista, a leader of an evangelical foundation.
The movement defines being a conservative woman as loving the country, the family and being Christian. They defend positions against abortion under any circumstances, against sex education classes in schools, and consider that feminism is not about equal rights, but about imposing successful careers on women and giving up having children. They also claim that Europe is being "invaded by Islam" and position themselves alongside Israel.
The article's author critiques the MCP's stance, asserting that feminism fundamentally seeks equal rights between genders. The author highlights historical gender disparities, noting women's past limitations like voting restrictions and requiring spousal permission for employment. Current pay gaps persist, and the movement appears oblivious to women's existing freedoms to live autonomously.
