by PublicABCP
Translated and reviewed by Matheus Lucas Hebling
The book Caminhos para o Protagonismo Feminino, by Luciana Panke (UFPR), offers an analysis of the obstacles to — and possibilities for — expanding women’s presence in leadership positions in contemporary society. Drawing on social transformations intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic, the author discusses women’s representation in spaces of power.
Published by Editora Univale, the work adopts an exploratory and cartographic methodological approach, bringing together up-to-date data from international institutions and proposing interdisciplinary reflections on politics, gender and public participation.
Panke’s central thesis is that increasing women’s protagonism across different social sectors is a fundamental condition for expanding the election of women to political office. She argues that the normalisation of female leadership in spheres such as the economy, health and the environment helps to dismantle stigmas and cultural resistance that continue to limit women’s access to elected positions.
To support this perspective, the book revisits a set of theoretical ideas and arguments concerning the historical construction of patriarchy and liberal democracies, highlighting how these systems directly or symbolically exclude women from decision-making processes.
One of the book’s key contributions lies in identifying the barriers that hinder the consolidation of female leadership, particularly in institutional politics. Panke organises these barriers into categories she terms “cultures”, including the culture of incompetence, silence, harassment, submission and victimhood. Each represents social and symbolic mechanisms that delegitimise women’s presence in positions of power — whether through the disqualification of their competencies, exclusion from debates and decisions, or symbolic and physical violence. The author emphasises that these obstacles are not natural but historically constructed and sustained by institutional and cultural practices that reinforce gender inequality.
Luciana Panke’s analysis also includes a survey of female leadership at the international level, with particular emphasis on the performance of women heads of state during the Covid-19 pandemic. Countries such as New Zealand, Taiwan and Norway, led by women, achieved positive results in managing the health crisis, especially regarding mortality rates and the effectiveness of public communication.
These examples are used to discuss different leadership styles and to suggest how attributes associated with empathy, active listening and objective decision-making can be valued in public governance. The book avoids essentialism and acknowledges the diversity of profiles among women leaders, challenging stereotypes and proposing new forms of representation.
In its final section, Panke presents practical recommendations for strengthening female protagonism in public and institutional spaces. These include adopting gender-responsive public policies, promoting parity in events and leadership positions, valuing inclusive language and training teams with a focus on equity.
The author underscores that electing women is only one stage in a broader process of social transformation, which requires structural and cultural change. By combining data, theoretical reflection and concrete experiences, Caminhos para o Protagonismo Feminino offers important contributions to understanding the current challenges of women’s political representation.
Author Profile
Luciana Panke completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Political Communication (UAM-Mexico) and holds a PhD in Communication Sciences (USP). She is Full Professor at the Federal University of Paraná, founding leader of the Electoral Communication Research Group (CEL), External Consultant to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and to the Observatory of Women in Politics of the Chamber of Deputies. She is the author of Lula do sindicalismo à reeleição: um caso de comunicação, política e discurso and Campanhas Eleitorais para Mulheres, published in four countries.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Title: Caminhos para o protagonismo feminino
Author: Luciana Panke
Publisher: Editora Univale
Year of Publication: 2025
ISBN: 978-65-87227-50-4
Available for download at: Editora Univale
