A divisão sexual do trabalho no setor público estatal: uma análise do trabalho das mulheres nas Forças de Segurança Pública do Estado do Maranhão no ano de 2025

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the phenomenon of the sexual division of labor in contemporary capitalism and how it manifests in the work of women holding high-ranking positions in the Public Security Forces of Maranhão. The study is based on the understanding that the sexual division of labor primarily assigns men to the productive sphere and women to the reproductive sphere; that these spheres are closely related in capitalism due to the need to reproduce the labor force, which is indispensable for the development of wage labor and profit-making; and that women constitute the workforce without which the reproductive work of the labor force would not be possible. The object of study was analyzed through a qualitative approach, adopting deductive logic to capture and rationalize its complexity. The research techniques employed were bibliographical and documentary research, as well as empirical research, which consisted of administering a questionnaire to the participating female military police officers, military firefighters, and civil police delegates. The study demonstrated the persistence of the sexual division of labor in the Public Security Forces of Maranhão, marked by low female participation in the PMMA (7.57%), CBMMA (8.61%), and PCMA (22.68%). These professionals face challenges related to distrust in their work capabilities, restrictions on participating in command decisions, discrimination, and the perception that they are "fragile." They also encounter difficulties in having their suggestions considered in institutional decision-making processes. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that the double burden impacts professional trajectories: 64.7% of the participants have children, most of whom require daily care, for which the mothers are primarily responsible. Regarding domestic work, 53% delegate these tasks to other women, revealing new configurations of the sexual division of labor. It is concluded that there is still a long way to go toward achieving gender equality in this workplace, which reproduces the logic of the sexual division of labor present in the structure of the Brazilian State.