Intersectionality Between Racism and Sexism in the Brazilian Airline Industry

Abstract

This work aims to discuss the barriers of access and permanence of Black woman crewmembers in the Brazilian airline industry as well as resistance strategies faced by them. Using intersectionality in a theoretical-methodological way, this research, of qualitative nature, carried out interviews with six Black women of the aforementioned sector. The work revealed how the airline industry is an elitist environment that excludes Black bodies, making use of the domination of structural, cultural, disciplinary, and interpersonal powers in order to give white subjects the advantage. However, it was also possible to perceive strategies of affronting, which involve the union of the Black airline industry workers into a collective—the Quilombo Aéreo—helmed by women who sought to open opportunities for the insertion of more Black people into the airline industry, taking care of the mental health of the ones who already work there, and also be a beacon for support.