Brazilian women, both white and afro-descendants, inspire sambas-enredo of são paulo carnival associations (1974 – 1988)

The focus of this text reflections is on some sambas-enredo (samba theme-songs) of Samba Schools that had women as inspiring muses to structure the parades displayed on the official catwalks of São Paulo carnivals from 1974 to 1988. These sambas-enredo were published in the Portal of SASP – Sociedade Amantes do Samba Paulista (Society of São Paulo Samba Lovers), a fact that enabled the research. The period marks the first years of carnivals formalization (which took place in 1968) in the city of São Paulo, guaranteeing the participation of popular segments in these celebrations, among them black people. The new format, financially supported by the government, demarcated a theme focused on folklore and other elements of Brazilian culture for carnival parades of the revelers associations. The scenario is predominantly discriminatory between gender relations of all social segments, which are expressed among revelers during these festivities. Furthermore, the analysis focuses on understanding and knowing these women who were chosen for sambas-enredo that bear the marks of Luso-Brazilian and African cultural traditions.