Mulheres Kaingangs e a universidade: um encontro desafiador

Abstract

This study addresses the challenges faced by Kaingang Indigenous women in accessing and remaining in higher education, focusing on students at the Federal University of Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Erechim campus. The research adopts an intersectional approach, considering the inequalities of gender, ethnicity, and social class. The study starts from the reality of Kaingang women who live between cultural traditions and the need to enter an academic environment historically marked by exclusion. These women face an overload of responsibilities, such as childcare, domestic tasks, and community obligations, in addition to geographical distance, economic difficulties, racism, and sexism both within universities and in their communities. UFFS has access and retention policies, such as the Indigenous Access and Permanence Program (PIN), but limitations remain regarding infrastructure, psychosocial support, and the appreciation of traditional knowledge. The absence of childcare facilities, materials in Indigenous languages, and support for student mothers are some of the obstacles to academic retention. Despite these barriers, many Kaingang women demonstrate resilience, forming support networks and becoming leaders in social and educational movements. Education is viewed by them not only as a personal project, but also as a collective one, aimed at strengthening their culture and community. The study concludes that it is urgent to expand inclusive policies that respect cultural diversity and promote gender equity, valuing Indigenous knowledge and ensuring real conditions for these women to remain in and develop within higher education.