Dois meninos e dois lápis de cor

Em 2.010, um menino de pele branca e de cabelos castanhos desentendeu-se com sua professora em uma cidade alemã. O menino alemão, filho de um homem branco nascido na Argentina e de uma mulher negra nascida no Brasil, tendo uma irmã unilateral negra e brasileira, queria desenhar e pintar sua família com lápis marrom. A sua professora, contudo, de forma irredutível, impunha que ele utilizasse o lápis de cor amarela.

Não tendo como persuadir a professora, o menino adota uma postura radical: decide que não pintará o desenho em sala de aula, colocando-o em sua mochila e o levando para casa com o fito de, no dia seguinte, apresentá-lo da forma que ele pretendia originariamente.

Essa ocorrência talvez não tivesse maior significado se esse garoto de cinco anos não fosse oriundo de uma família cujo destino fora alterado pela intolerância.

A história começa onde hoje é a cidade sérvia chamada Kniçanin, que, na época, já que as pessoas que iam para lá eram alemãs, era considerada um povoado alemão, denominado de Rudolfsgnag. Na verdade, o Imperador, que residia na Austria, tinha autoridade sobre a localidade.

Em 1944, durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, quando o exército russo se deslocava para a Alemanha, a maioria das famílias alemãs abandonou o povoado, dirigindo-se à Austria ou à Alemanha. A família de nosso querido desenhista permaneceu, sendo alvo da perseguição instaurada pela Iugoslávia, que criara quatro ou cinco campos de prisioneiros na região.  Um deles era o campo de Rudolfsnag.

No campo supracitado, morreram muitas crianças e idosos. Encarceirados, entre tantos alemães, havia um menino, sua tia e os filhos dela. A mãe do menino fora encaminhada para a Rússia, onde ficou presa por quatro ou cinco anos, e seu pai, que era soldado, fora preso pelos britânicos.

Sabemos que a Segunda Grande Guerra teve motivações econômicas, históricas e políticas, mas, na sua raiz, estava a intolerância, tanto a que levou à consolidação de regimes calcados no militarismo e no racismo, quanto a que impediu os povos de evitar o confronto armado. Nesse cenário, as vidas restaram despedaçadas.

Em 1.949, a Cruz Vermelha conseguiu reunir a família mencionada acima: o menino, agora com seis anos, seus pais, sua tia com seus dois filhos e seu marido, que também estava preso. A tia do menino, seus filhos e o seu marido foram para Stuttgart; o menino e seus pais para Viena e depois para a Argentina. Aliás, entre 5 a 10 famílias de Rudolfsnag foram para a Argentina. Outras tiveram como destino o Brasil, mas a maioria delas foi para Viena e para a região da Floresta Negra na Alemanha.

Chegando à Argentina, apesar de frequentar o clube alemão, o menino aprendeu a amar a terra, seus costumes e o River Plate. Em Buenos Aires, casou e teve filhos. Um de seus filhos, visitando o Brasil a trabalho, em Porto Alegre, conheceu uma mulher brasileira e passou a também amar sua filha com a intensidade de um pai. Os três, então, rumaram para Buenos Aires, mas a crise econômica os fez partir para a Alemanha, onde a família passou a ter quatro pessoas com o nascimento de nosso pintor.

Os dois meninos, que na verdade são avô e neto,  mostram-nos como a intolerância, sobretudo, quando atinge a política, a educação e as relações familiares, é capaz de nos afastar da felicidade. Mostram-nos, também, que ela pode ser suplantada ou, ao menos, minimizada com a determinação, com a capacidade de superação e com o amor. Sim, o amor. As duras lições aprendidas pelo avô, viram-se solidificadas em seu filho, capaz de amar e de se fazer amar por pessoas de raça e de vivências diferentes, chegando ao neto que, em tenra idade, soube se posicionar diante da intolerância.

Jorge Terra

• ESCRITO EM 2010.

5 ways parents can help their children avoid gender stereotypes

Avoiding gender stereotypes includes being aware of gendered marketing and disrupting stereotypes at home.Image: Ran Zheng/ NPR

Kyl Myers – Adjunct Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Utah

In the last century, significant progress has been made in advancing gender equity in the United States. Women gained the right to vote, fathers have become more involved parents and more people and institutions recognize gender identities beyond the binary categories of male and female.

However, persistent gaps remain. Women hold only a quarter of U.S. congressional seats, only a handful of states mandate paid paternity leave and state legislatures are introducing bills that discriminate against transgender people.

The majority of Americans believe there is more work to do on gender equality. As a genderqueer sociologist, a parent of a kindergartner and the author of a book on gender creative parenting, I study the importance of disrupting sexism in childhood. Here are five ways I’ve found that parents and caregivers can fight gender stereotypes in kids’ lives.

1. Acknowledge that a child may be LGBTQI+

Gender identity and sexuality are diverse and personal experiences. However, medical institutions and parents commonly assign a sex to newborns based on physical characteristics and socialize children as one of two binary genders. For example, children with vulvas are assigned female and raised as girls and children with penises are assigned male and raised as boys.

Most children are cisgender – meaning their gender identity aligns with the sex and gender they were assigned at birth. However, the percentage of young people in the U.S. who identify as transgender – meaning their gender does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth, or who are nonbinary – meaning their gender is neither strictly male or female – is growing. And an estimated one in every 1,500 to 2,000 babies born in the U.S. are intersex, meaning their sex chromosomes or reproductive anatomy may be different than what is typically categorized as male or female.

Additionally, nationwide, more than 11% of high school students say they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or questioning their sexuality. Young LGBTQ people are coming out to their families earlier than older generations did. Research shows that family acceptance of young LGBTQ people is associated with greater mental and physical health and protection against depression, substance abuse and suicide.

2. Be aware of gendered marketing

Children’s toys and clothes are increasingly divided by gender, and many people blame the profit-driven exploitation of gender-stereotyped marketing.

For example, building toys and small vehicles are marketed to boys, and dolls and makeup to girls. In children’s clothing stores, primary colors, transportation and sport graphics are often on one side, and pastels, flowers and sparkles on the other.

Children learn important social, emotional and physical life skills through play. Playing with a variety of toys provides opportunities to develop and build upon well-rounded skills, including spatial awareness and empathy. Gender-stereotyped marketing can limit the kinds of toys and experiences children are exposed to.

Parents and caregivers can shop all the aisles of a toy or clothing store to show children that gendered marketing boundaries are arbitrary and can be crossed. They can let kids explore what is available and choose for themselves.

Counterstereotyping – explicitly reversing a stereotype – is also a powerful way to disrupt gender stereotypes in play. For example, a caregiver can look at dolls with a boy and say things like, “Boys like dolls” and “Daddies are really good at caring for babies.”

3. Disrupt gender stereotypes at home

Parents and caregivers are children’s first models for how gender is performed. Adults can model language and behavior that challenge binary and harmful sexist stereotypes, such as the belief that women should do more housework – even when they have full-time employment. For example, in households with more than one parent, and especially in different-gender couples, parents can share parenting responsibilities and household tasks.

Actions speak louder than words, and children are more likely to reject the idea of traditional gender norms when their parents exhibit fairness and divide domestic labor equitably, not just mention it as something they value.

Parents can switch up children’s chores so they learn about housekeeping in a nongendered way. Boys can do dishes, and girls can take out the garbage. Parents can also ensure allowance is equitable, as the gender pay gap can start at home. Research suggests girls earn less allowance even when they do more chores.

4. Use gender-neutral language

Using gender-neutral pronouns and other words can reduce gender bias and increase positive regard for women and LGBT people. For example, using anatomical language instead of gendered words, like “vulva” instead of “girl parts,” teaches children that not all people who have vulvas identify as girls. This doesn’t erase cisgender girls, but is inclusive of many transgender boys and nonbinary kids. Similarly, replacing “moms and dads” with “parents and caregivers” is not only inclusive of same-sex and nonbinary parents but also acknowledges single parents and the millions of grandparents and nonrelative guardians.

Parents and caregivers play a pivotal role in addressing gender stereotypes.Image: Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times

In children’s books, where boy characters far outnumber girls and other genders, caregivers can change he/him pronouns to she/her and they/them. Adults can also choose books and media that represent kids in diverse and inclusive ways, and call out stereotypes when they come up in stories.

5. Encourage mixed-gender play

Gender segregation is deeply embedded in social structures and can have negative implications, such as sexist attitudes toward people of other genders. Children are often categorized in gendered groups, sometimes casually (“boys line up here, girls line up there”) and other times explicitly, like in single-sex schools.

Research shows that children who have close friendships with children of other genders hold more positive and less sexist attitudes toward their friend’s gender.

Parents and educators can create opportunities for kids to interact with children of different genders. They can stop segregating children by gender, choose sports teams and other organized extracurricular activities that are open to all genders and host mixed-gender birthday parties, for example. All-gender activities help children recognize their similarities and celebrate their differences and are inclusive of children who don’t identify as a girl or boy.

fonte: forum econômico mundial em 1º.3.2021.

Government of Canada announces measures to keep communities safe, fight systemic racism and make our criminal justice system more effective for all

News release

February 18, 2021 – Ottawa – Department of Justice Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the criminal justice system keeps all Canadians, their families, and communities safe. Recent events have further highlighted the systemic discrimination and disproportionate representation of Indigenous peoples, as well as Black Canadians and members of marginalized communities as offenders and victims in the criminal justice system. Taking steps to address this reality is critical to building a fairer, more effective justice system that keeps us all safe while ensuring serious criminals still face serious punishment.

Today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, introduced proposed amendments to the Criminal Code and to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. These proposed changes would reform sentencing measures for certain offences, including by repealing some of the mandatory minimum penalties of imprisonment (MMPs) that contribute to higher rates of imprisonment and disproportionately affect Indigenous peoples and Black Canadians. Together with Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms), which proposes to increase maximum penalties for certain firearms offences related to gun smuggling and trafficking, this will ensure the courts are better equipped to impose appropriate sentences that keep communities safe. The legislation also increases the availability of conditional sentence orders (CSOs) where appropriate, and encourages greater use of diversion programs.

In keeping with the Government’s public-health centred approach to addiction and the opioid epidemic that has affected families and communities across the country, this Bill proposes specific amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. These changes would require police and prosecutors to consider alternatives, including diverting individuals to treatment programs, instead of laying charges or prosecuting individuals for simple drug possession.

The Bill proposes the following specific reforms:

• Repeal MMPs for certain offences to address the disproportionate impact on Indigenous and Black offenders, as well as those struggling with substance use and addiction. This would restore the ability of a judge to impose appropriate sentences that respond to the facts of the case before them, including the individual’s experience with systemic racism and the risk they pose to public safety. This moves away from the one-size-fits-all approach, which has not deterred crime but has resulted in unfair outcomes and a less effective criminal justice system, as well as longer and more complex trials.  
• Allow for greater use of CSOs in cases where an offender faces a term of less than two years imprisonment and does not pose a threat to public safety. Under these circumstances, judges would have the option to order that the term be served in the community under strict conditions, including house arrest, curfew, and mandatory counselling or treatment for substance abuse. This change would allow for more effective rehabilitation and reintegration by enabling individuals to maintain their employment, or continue caring for children or family members in need. This approach has been proven to reduce recidivism.
• Require police and prosecutors to consider other measures for simple possession of drugs such as diversion to addiction treatment programs, rather than laying charges or prosecuting individuals for simple possession of an illegal drug. The proposed amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act reinforce the Government’s commitment to treat substance use a health issue, and address the opioid crisis. It also aligns with calls heard from many in the law enforcement community and local leaders across the country.

These legislative measures complement a number of new investments included in the recent Fall Economic Statement. This includes funding for community organizations and programs that support at-risk youth, provide alternatives to criminal charges where appropriate, and help address inequities faced by Indigenous peoples, Black Canadians and other racialized individuals in the justice system.  These investments will notably support Community Justice Centres, Gladue reporting and Impact of Race and Culture Assessments.

This package of reforms represents one part of the Government’s broader efforts to root out systemic racism throughout Canadian society and foster a safer and fairer future for all Canadians.

Quotes

“The reforms we are introducing are critical to addressing systemic racism and discrimination in the justice system while keeping Canadians safe. We are turning the page on failed approaches which have disproportionately hurt Indigenous peoples, Black Canadians and marginalized communities. They have also left our communities less safe and created a justice system that is less fair for all Canadians. Taken together with other efforts across government, this suite of measures represents an important step forward in the fight to root out systemic racism and ensure a more effective justice system for all.”

The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

“We know that mandatory provisions can result in sentences that are not proportional to all the circumstances of the offence, and have resulted in disparate, unjust outcomes for racialized and Indigenous people. Sentencing options that include diversion, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration back into community produce better outcomes and reduce disproportionate incarceration. For serious and violent offences, incarceration is still necessary to protect society and that is why we would increase maximum penalties for serious firearm offences.”

The Honourable Bill Blair
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

“Our government recognizes the very real issue of systemic racism in our country, and around the world. After years of failed policies, we are taking decisive action to address the over-representation of Indigenous Peoples, Black Canadians and other racialized groups in the criminal justice system. We will not turn a blind eye. We will continue to work to build a better, more effective, and fairer justice system. We will contribute to safer Canadian communities by making crucial investments in evidence-based prevention and diversion measures.” 

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, 
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

“Our Government is committed to addressing systemic racism in all aspects of society, and that includes the criminal justice system. It is unacceptable that Indigenous Peoples, Black Canadians, and underserved communities continue to be overrepresented as offenders and victims in the criminal justice system. The steps announced today will ensure a fairer justice system. As we stand together against all forms of discrimination and racism, we can build a consciously more inclusive Canada.”

The Honourable Bardish Chagger
Minister of Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth

Quick facts

• The Government is responding to calls for reform from Canadians as well as organizations and commissions, including the Parliamentary Black Caucus, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
• Data shows that, between 2007-2008 and 2016-2017, Black and other racialized offenders were more likely to be admitted to federal custody for an offence punishable by an MMP. It also shows that the proportion of Indigenous offenders admitted with an offence punishable by an MMP has significantly increased over the past 10 years. Source: Correctional Service of Canada.
• In 2020, despite representing 5% of the Canadian adult population, Indigenous adults accounted for 30% of federally incarcerated inmates. Sources: Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2018 Corrections and Conditional Release Statistical Overview, Statistics Canada’s Population and Demography Statistics.
• In 2018-2019, Black inmates represented 7.2% of the federal offender population but only 3% of the Canadian population. Sources: Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2018 Corrections and Conditional Release Statistical Overview, Statistics Canada’s Population and Demography Statistics.
• According to the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey, Canadians with a mental or substance use disorder are nine times more likely to come into contact with police for problems with their emotions, mental health or substance use, and four times more likely to be arrested than Canadians without a mental or substance use disorder.
• These changes would repeal MMPs for 14 of the 67 offences covering a broad range of conduct punishable by MMPs under the current Criminal Code. MMPs for all 6 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act offences punishable by an MMP would be repealed.
• Under the current Criminal Code, an offence punishable by an MMP requires that the judge impose a sentence equal to or greater than the minimum term for that offence. This is true even in cases where the court finds that imprisonment is not appropriate under the facts of the case.
• Gladue Principles oblige judges to take into account the background, intergenerational effects of colonialism, such as residential schools, and other systemic factors at sentencing. Gladue reports are prepared by court caseworkers to inform alternatives to imprisonment, which can include Indigenous-based alternatives.
• Impact of Race and Culture Assessments provide information to allow sentencing judges to consider how disadvantages and systemic racism contributed to an individual’s interaction with the criminal justice system.
• Community Justice Centres (CJCs) are an innovative approach for moving justice out of the traditional courtroom, and into a community setting. CJCs bring together justice, health, employment, education and social services to collectively address the root cause of crime, break the cycle of offending, and improve public safety and community well-being.
• The Community Justice Centre pilot project, to which we have committed funding, is already underway at three Indigenous Justice Centres in British Columbia. The Prince Rupert Indigenous Justice Centre, for example, offers a range of services, including legal advice from an on-site lawyer, a referral to Legal Aid, advocacy and help dealing with the Ministry of Children & Family Development, someone who can act as a liaison to the person’s local Band, or a worker to help develop a plan to help them make amends for their crimes in a way that best meets the needs of victims, the community and the offender. The IJC has programs to help people coming out of a correctional institution or penitentiary reintegrate into the community, and serves as a central access point for local services and resources, including information on waitlists and eligibility.

fonte: Department of Justice Canada

Pense bem !

Conheces famílias nas quais todos torcem para um clube de futebol e uma pessoa, apesar de toda a força da influência de seus pais e de seus irmãos, torce para um clube rival?

Conheces pessoa homossexual que hoje tem mais de 55 anos? Há quarenta e cinco anos ou mais, questões atinentes à sexualidade não eram abordadas amplamente nas famílias, nas escolas ou nas televisões. É possível dizer que determinadas formações familiares, escolas ou programas de televisão “transformam” as pessoas nessa questão?

Presenciei debate na casa legislativa de minha cidade. Em sua manifestação, um parlamentar de um partido de direita, apontando para outro parlamentar, este de esquerda, disse que foi seu aluno e que dele sofreu “doutrinação” durante esse período. Será que houve a alegada “doutrinação” e, se houve, ela foi bem sucedida?

Não está na hora de parar para pensar e de não se deixar levar por aqueles que, em verdade, não são contrários a que se tenha opinião desde que ela seja igual a deles? Sabes que há aqueles que ganham popularidade, dinheiro ou votos ao disseminar os seus preconceitos e que, para isso, precisam nos convencer de que as verdades deles são absolutas?

Pensamentos e agires “automáticos”, desacompanhados de maior reflexão, podem ampliar nossas chances de cometer erros e injustiças. Então, sem te impor nada, apenas peço que reserves um tempo para pensar sobre questões que consideres relevantes e que tenhas um olhar crítico para o que ouves por aí e para o que lês aqui.

Jorge Terra.

 

 

3 LIÇÕES

Não tenho por hábito discorrer sobre questões pessoais. Todavia, hoje é um dia especial para mim e permito-me, pois, essa exceção.

O ponto que quero brevemente abordar talvez sirva a outros, afastando a pessoalidade referida acima.

Quero falar das três principais lições que tive e que norteiam minha vida. As três foram ministradas por parentes meus em minha casa no Bairro Azenha.

Minha vó sempre ensinava, repetidamente, que ninguém era melhor ou pior do que eu. Com simplicidade, estava a tratar de igualdade e de autoestima. Essas palavras, vindas de uma pessoa nascida no ano de 1.910, ganham uma força estrondosa. Essa força alcançou seu apogeu quando, vendo uma reportagem de Marcos Losekan sobre o mal que acometia Arafat e a impossibilidade de a ele chegar, ouviu-se um porta-voz de Arafat. Era ele um amigo de minha avó, que muitas vezes nos visitara e que a convidava a cada inauguração das lojas que tinha no Brasil.

Agora, ao tentar escrever, vejo que a caminhada que trilho e o destemor de meus filhos nos ambientes que frequentam estão baseados naquela mulher que, por sorte minha, era e sempre será uma  referência. Aliás, ainda lembro do dia em que acordei com cartolina, lápis de cor e de cera sobre o peito. Minha avó, embora as dificuldades a serem enfrentadas por eu récem ter feito 5 anos e a escola exigir que eu tivesse mais alguns meses, decidira que deveria iniciar minha vida escolar.

Outra lição importante, veio de minha mãe e até hoje ela é relembrada por mim e por ela: eu deveria, não importando o valor, entregar o troco na volta de qualquer compra. Minha mãe, do seu jeito, demonstrou a importância da honestidade, de gerar confiança nas pessoas e de ser justo.

Dia desses, eu e meus filhos fomos comprar espetinhos de churrasco. Na hora de pagar, faltaram R$3,00. Expliquei ao atendente que não tinha, mas que retornaria com o valor faltante. Voltamos para casa com os espetinhos e tão logo terminamos de comer, percebi que meus filhos estavam ansiosos para sair e ir alcançar os três reais. Quitada a dívida, percebi como ficaram orgulhosos de terem mantido as suas palavras.

Por fim, mas não com menos importância, veio a lição de meu avô.

Quando eu lhe disse que queria ser jogador de futebol e que queria ser meia-esquerda, falou que eu deveria saber chutar com os dois pés. Então, com tenra idade, eu treinava diariamente em nosso pátio sem poder usar o pé direito na maior parte do tempo.

Não me tornei jogador de futebol. Ademais, ser meia-esquerda, naquela época, exigia um nível de futebol que eu não tinha apesar de muito me interessar por esquemas táticos, por posturas, por capacidade de indignação e por jogos do Internacional e da Seleção Brasileira. O fato é que aprendi, daquela forma singela, a importância da dedicação, de querer vencer, de querer ser bom em alguma atividade, de ser útil. Ademais, caso alguém tenha curiosidade, informo que chuto melhor com o pé esquerdo do que com o direito embora seja destro e que a dedicação ajudou-me quando optei pelo basquete e nas atividades que se seguiram em minha vida.

No dia de hoje, minha filha completa 10 anos e vejo nela, dentre outras tantas coisas, as três lições revividas e externadas quando ela fala sobre política, racismo e comportamento.

Jorge Terra

Neto da Bita

 

Eu acredito no futuro!

Eu tenho esperança no futuro próximo!

Enquanto eu arrumava o auditório para a realização do evento “O negro e a lei penal”, minha filha, então com oito anos, gravava, no celular, sua opinião sobre preconceito, discriminação e bullying.

Eu tenho muito que agradecer a ela e à vida!

A seguir, o link para ouvires com tempo e com calma:

Jorge Terra

Coordenador da Rede Afro-Gaúcha de Profissionais do Direito