Professionalism, gender, and inequality: An inquiry into the causes of gender disparity in Brazilian courts

Abstract

This article discusses the causes behind the patent gender inequality in Brazilian Courts. Based on the seminal work of Maria da Glória Bonelli, it updates data on gender composition of the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJSP) and the Federal Regional Court of the 3rd Region (TRF3). State and federal courts' data evolution is then compared, and Bonelli's previous thesis to explain the findings is discussed. Showing evidence of increasing gender inequality at the federal level and only a small progress at the state level, the article argues this new data contradicts her "professionalism" centered thesis. In addition, two hypotheses are discussed to explain the phenomenon: (i) a greater Executive branch interference in the Federal Justice; and (ii) the effect of subtle legal-related mechanisms both at the entry and the intermediate career levels.

Keywords:
Gender inequality; Gendered closure mechanisms; Judiciary; Professionalism; Causal hypotheses