Brazilian Black Women Gain Education While Domestic Violence Jumps 185%

A new study on black women in Brazil documents major advances in higher education but a stark increase in gender‑based violence. Between 2010 and 2022 the number of black women enrolled in public universities rose from 1.9 million to 5.7 million, raising their share of the student body from 15 % to 22 % and boosting completed higher‑education degrees by 194 %. The growth is concentrated in fields such as pedagogy, nursing and humanities, while medicine, law and engineering remain dominated by white men.

At the same time, records of domestic violence against black women surged 185 % from 2014 to 2024, far outpacing the 92 % rise for white women. In 2024 Brazil registered 1,492 feminicides, with black women accounting for 63.6 % of the victims. Most of these killings occurred within the home and were perpetrated by current or former partners. The authors call for mandatory inclusion of race or colour in public‑security data and for stronger anti‑racist, decolonial policies to improve access to physical activity and overall health for black women.

The findings underscore persistent structural racism and sexism that shape health, safety and professional opportunities for Brazil’s 60 million black women, highlighting the need for comprehensive policy responses.