Join the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies for a lecture with visiting history professor Elisa Frühauf Garcia. Food will be provided.
In this talk, we will explore early European accounts of the Indigenous peoples of coastal Brazil, which frequently emphasize themes of sexuality, particularly in relation to Indigenous women. These accounts are replete with detailed, stereotypical depictions of their bodies, sexual practices, partner choices, roles as mothers, and emotional lives. I will analyze how these perceptions were constructed and subsequently propagated across Europe, situating them within the broader context of Portuguese colonial rule in Brazil. Furthermore, this discussion will highlight how Indigenous women, despite being framed within these colonial narratives, actively resisted and subverted such portrayals, thereby reclaiming their agency and offering a more complex understanding of their lived experiences under colonial rule.
The talk will also address how Brazilian historiography has, until recently, perpetuated colonial perspectives on Indigenous women, and the ways in which these views continue to permeate the country’s cultural heritage. This legacy is visible in many Brazilian cities, where public spaces and monuments often perpetuate outdated narratives and shape the historical perceptions of passersby. Examining these enduring representations allows us to better understand how colonial legacies persist in contemporary society. In conclusion, this presentation will emphasize the vital role of historical research in contesting these colonial narratives. It will also underscore the importance of bridging academic scholarship with public engagement to promote a more informed, inclusive, and critical understanding of the past.