GENDER IN MILITARY INSTITUTIONS - THE TRAJECTORY OF WOMEN IN THE MILITARY POLICE OF AMAZONAS AS PART OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA

Abstract

Women, as members of society, have increasingly conquered spaces within every sector that makes up collective life. The conception of women as merely domestic beings, solely occupied with household chores, is no longer acceptable. With the rise of women's interest in actively participating in the labor market, they have been pioneering territories previously classified as masculine. In this context, the military emerges as a relatively new space for women, since, considering the history of military units in Brazil, it was only in the last half-century that women were able to become professionals in these corporations. The state of Amazonas had its first class of female police officers in 1980, a milestone in the history of the corporation and the first step towards safeguarding the fundamental prerogatives of women in Amazonas within the State Military Police. Understanding the pioneering process faced by the so-called pioneers in the PMAM (Military Police of Amazonas) reflects the social transformations experienced in recent decades in the pursuit of consolidating a human rights agenda. This is because, far beyond mere numbers, the participation of women in the PMAM is a recognition of the commitment of the PMAM and the State to democratically ensure social justice and respect for gender diversity, transforming the Military Police of Amazonas into a more inclusive institution aligned with international principles for the protection of fundamental rights.