Guerreiras: The Female Warriors of Brazilian Futebol
Guerreiras: The Female Warriors of Brazilian Futebol
2 minute read
Santos player, Fran, heads the ball towards the opposing team's goal during a Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Feminino tournament match in São José dos Campos, Brazil. (November 20, 2010)Adrienne Grunwald
The 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off today in Germany. In September 2010, photographer Adrienne Grunwald, along with gender researcher and former Santos F.C. player Caitlin Fisher, began documenting the lives of forty female futebol players in Brazil who play professionally for Santos FC—one of the most renowned male futebol clubs of all time. Several members of the Santos team are representing their country on the Brazilian National team at this year’s World Cup. Guerreiras (Female Warriors) explores changing gender norms among Brazil’s professional female futebol players.
Futebol has long been considered Brazil’s most popular sport and around the world, Brazil is regarded as “football country.” These labels tend to refer solely to the men’s game. The same machismo responsible for the prohibition of women’s football during the country’s military dictatorship from 1964-1981 carried over into the 21st century, creating social stigmas and cultural resistance to the women’s game. Because of this legacy, female futebol players have continuously struggled to gain acceptance. These players have not only represented a threat to Brazilian masculinity, but have also been perceived as encroaching in a disgraceful manner on one of the nation’s primary sources of pride and collective identity.
Recently, a shift has begun to unfold allowing the women’s game to begin occupying a much more valued position within the culture—a shift that appears to be occurring hand-in-hand with Brazil’s emergence in the global economy. Female players are stepping onto the field, carving a space for themselves and enjoying increased media attention, improved facilities, higher salaries—and for some female players, their individual struggles have been eased. Although there is still a long way to go towards equality in Brazilian women’s futebol, this movement is arguably loosening the grips of machismo, contributing to the deconstruction of traditional gender roles, and serving as a strong source of empowerment.
— Caitlin Fisher and Adrienne Grunwald
Adrienne Grunwald is a freelance photographer based in New York City. To see more of Adrienne’s work, visit her website.
Santos player, Fran, heads the ball towards the opposing team's goal during a Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Feminino tournament match in São José dos Campos, Brazil. (November 20, 2010)Adrienne GrunwaldDetail of Santos Futebol Clube (SFC) socks during a team stretch at training. All of the women on the team are now provided with washed uniform kits for every practice and game similar to the men’s teams. In the past, the women on the team were responsible for washing their own uniform kits by hand. (October 29, 2010)Adrienne GrunwaldAline Calandrini, nicknamed “Calan”, on the field. Calan is often referred to as the muse of Santos FC because of she is considered both a symbol of beauty and talent. (November 24, 2010) Adrienne GrunwaldSantos fans, familiarly known as Santistas, watch through the fence as the women’s team celebrates their Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Feminino championship in São Paulo, Brazil. Once considered a disgrace to the much celebrated men's game, futebol feminino in Brazil has finally started to be accepted among male and female fans. (November 27, 2010)Adrienne GrunwaldSantos players, Pikena and Pellé, embrace after winning the Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Feminino championship in São Paulo, Brazil. (November 27, 2010)Adrienne GrunwaldCristiane, who also plays for the Brazilian National team, relaxes in front of the Santos players' house. Cristiane, who has played professionally for Germany’s VfL Wolfsburg and in the U.S. for the Chicago Red Stars, debuted for the U-19 Brazilian National team at the age of 15 and is known as one of the best players in Brazil. She was also a member of the Brazilian National Team that won the silver medal at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. (December 2, 2010)Adrienne GrunwaldSantos goalkeeper, nicknamed Kaká, makes a diving save during practice at the Santos CT Rei Pelé training center in Santos, Brazil. (November 24, 2010) Adrienne GrunwaldSantos goalkeeper Mayla, sits on the floor in front of a mural photograph of Santos FC men's legends, Pelé and Pepe, in the Estádio Vila Belmiro locker room. Santos FC is known all over the world as the club where Pelé, the king of futebol, started his career at the age of 15. (December 3, 2010) Adrienne GrunwaldYoung girls watch the Brazilian National women's futebol team practice session at the Granja Comary training center in Teresópolis, Brazil. (October 25, 2010) Adrienne GrunwaldAn injured Rio Preto EC player awaits medical assistance during a semi-final match versus Santos FC in the Copa Libertadores national tournament played in Santos' Estádio Vila Belmiro in Santos, Brazil. The women’s team, nicknamed the Serias da Vila (Vila’s Mermaids), are only granted use of the stadium’s field for final/semi-final matches and if the men are not scheduled to play. (October 23, 2010)Adrienne GrunwaldEster, who is a player on the Brazilian National team, gets off her motorcycle in front of the Santos player house before changing for practice. (October 24, 2010)Adrienne GrunwaldMale futebol fans watch the Santos FC women's team play at the Estádio Martins in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Once considered a disgrace to the much celebrated men's game, futebol feminino in Brazil has finally started to be accepted among male and female fans. (November 27, 2010)Adrienne Grunwald: Santos player, Calan, ices her ankle after a physical therapy training session at the Santos CT Rei Pelé training center. (December 1, 2010) Adrienne GrunwaldA Brazilian Women’s National team player walks between drills on a foggy afternoon training session at the Granja Comary in Teresópolis, Brazil. (October 25, 2010)Adrienne Grunwald
