It is not difficult to truly see we are inserted into a male-dominated world. As females, we need to learn from an early age to cross the boundaries delimited by the patriarchal society and find our voices and spaces.

We are just as humans as our male counterparts, and we should not tolerate and encourage gender-based violence and abuse, even if those abuses are uttered in the form of “jokes”. By allowing such behaviour, we are feeding this male-dominated society we live in and we are not fighting for the true equality we all deserve to have.

Sexist speeches and attacks on women must be challenged and debated. No authority should represent us if they do not understand and respect our fight. Being a feminist is not to be against men, but it is to act to make people (male and female) possess equal rights, opportunities, and responsibilities. It is a fight for an equal democracy.

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The acrylic painting, Don’t Make Us Look Like Fools, was inspired by the #Elenao (Portuguese for not him) mass movement led by Brazilian women that took place in several regions of Brazil and cities around the world in 2018. The protests against sexist declarations were important to provide the visibility that Brazilian women needed to discuss their macho culture society and unequal democracy. This painting was a representation of you, women, that - fought in 2018 - fight every day to not normalise abusive declarations and behaviours against women.