Gender equality continues to be a global issue, with significant disparities in attention and action between developed and developing nations. Women, in particular, face unique challenges when transitioning from higher education (HE) to empowerment compared to their male counterparts. In many developing countries, barriers to accessing formal education are prevalent, while, in others, despite access to education, women struggle to leverage their learning for societal advancement. This paper adopts the development theory approach by exploring the role of gender equality in fostering sustainable development, emphasizing how women’s empowerment is integral to overall societal progress. This study focuses on Brazil, where, despite high levels of female educational attainment, women still encounter substantial obstacles in transforming their education into meaningful societal empowerment. These challenges include restricted freedom and mobility, deeply ingrained gender norms, violence and harassment, cultural and societal expectations, economic limitations, and family obligations. Survey data were collated from 192 students, alumni, and staff at three academic higher education (HE) institutions in Brazil, utilizing a range of descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to uncover the most significant barriers. This study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at various stakeholders, including government bodies, employers, and other organizations, to support a smoother transition for women from higher education to empowerment. These recommendations include improving workplace policies, enhancing legal protections, and promoting gender equality in leadership roles, all of which are essential to narrowing the gender gap in Brazil.

Efficient and sustainable human resources are crucial for promoting development in emerging nations. Brazil’s education policy provides its citizens with widespread educational opportunities, resulting in high literacy rates. However, women with academic qualifications and skills often encounter significant barriers when transitioning from higher education to positions of empowerment, leading to an underutilisation of human capital. This study, conducted in 2024, gathered data from female students and staff at three Brazilian universities (the State University of Maranhãoo, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and the University of São Paulo) using a survey methodology to ascertain the barriers impeding women’s transition from higher education to empowerment. The data were analysed using Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE), a soft computing technique, and it was identified that the most significant barriers revolve around women’s freedom and mobility. Additional challenges include gender norms, family responsibilities, violence and harassment, socio-cultural constraints, and financial limitations. The study offers practical recommendations such as organising awareness programmes and integrating digital technology to enhance workplace safety, thereby addressing these barriers. The findings contribute both practically and theoretically to the more effective utilisation of human resources in Brazil. These insights are particularly valuable for stakeholders, including government bodies, managers, and academic institutions, in fostering gender equality and empowering women in the workforce.

A apropriação de tecnologias autóctones pelos grupos hegemônicos, sobretudo durante o período colonial brasileiro, foi e ainda é uma estratégia para invisibilizar povos e comunidades tradicionais, além de sustentar o domínio estrutural através do discurso de superioridade. O presente artigo tem como objetivo refletir sobre a incorporação das tecnologias indígenas no manejo ambiental pela comunidade de agricultores familiares, descendentes de colonos suíços, do município de Nova Friburgo (RJ). A partir da história ambiental foram analisadas permanências do uso de técnicas, ferramentas e cultivos agrícolas na região. Vestígios na paisagem, o relato de viajantes naturalistas e a tradição oral de indígenas Puris e dos agricultores comprovam aspectos da relação entre os povos originários e a natureza que foram apropriados pelos colonos no século XIX e permanecem até os dias atuais. Este trabalho reforça o estudo das tecnologias como uma abordagem promissora no caminho para o reconhecimento e a valorização dos saberes originários e uma importante ferramenta para, através da ecologia política decolonial, buscar soluções para os problemas étnicos, históricos, sociais, econômicos e ambientais da atualidade. Palavras-chave: Puri; APA Macaé de Cima; Coivara; Memória Social; Floresta Cultural. Outside the books, but present on the land: Indigenous technologies in family farming Abstract The appropriation of indigenous technologies by hegemonic groups, especially during the Brazilian colonial period, was and still is a strategy to render traditional peoples and communities invisible, while sustaining structural dominance through the discourse of superiority. This article aims to reflect on the incorporation of indigenous technologies in environmental management by a community of family farmers, descendants of Swiss settlers, in the municipality of Nova Friburgo (RJ). Using environmental history, the study analyzed the persistence of techniques, tools, and agricultural practices in the region. Traces in the landscape, accounts from naturalist travelers, and oral traditions of Puris indigenous people and farmers confirm aspects of the relationship between indigenous peoples and nature that were appropriated by settlers in the 19th century and continue to exist today. This work reinforces the study of technologies as a promising approach towards recognizing and valuing indigenous knowledge, serving as an important tool through decolonial political ecology to seek solutions for contemporary ethnic, historical, social, economic, and environmental issues. Keywords: Puri indigenous people; APA Macaé de Cima; Social Memory; Cultural Forest. Fuera de los libros, pero presentes en la tierra: Tecnologías indígenas en la agricultura familiar Resumen La apropiación de tecnologías autóctonas por parte de los grupos hegemónicos, especialmente durante el período colonial brasileño, fue y sigue siendo una estrategia para invisibilizar a los pueblos y comunidades tradicionales, además de sostener el dominio estructural a través del discurso de superioridad. Este artículo tiene como objetivo reflexionar sobre la incorporación de tecnologías indígenas en la gestión ambiental por parte de una comunidad de agricultores familiares, descendientes de colonos suizos, en el municipio de Nova Friburgo (RJ). A través de la historia ambiental, se analizaron las persistencias en el uso de técnicas, herramientas y cultivos agrícolas en la región. Vestigios en el paisaje, los relatos de viajeros naturalistas y la tradición oral de los indígenas Puris y los agricultores confirman aspectos de la relación entre los pueblos originarios y la naturaleza que fueron apropiados por los colonos en el siglo XIX y que persisten hasta nuestros días. Este trabajo refuerza el estudio de las tecnologías como un enfoque prometedor en el camino hacia el reconocimiento y la valorización de los saberes originarios, así como una herramienta importante para, a través de la ecología política decolonial, buscar soluciones a los problemas étnicos, históricos, sociales, económicos y ambientales contemporáneos. Palabras clave: Pueblo indigena Puri; APA Macaé de Cima; Memoria Social; Bosque Cultural.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a critical problem within Brazilian higher education institutions, where deep-rooted cultural norms and institutional shortcomings continue to foster unsafe environments for female students. Although national and international bodies have raised concerns, few studies have thoroughly examined the layered causes of VAWG in academic settings using comprehensive analytical methods. This study aims to explore the causal factors of VAWG within Brazilian universities by applying a structured survey and analyzing the responses using the Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) approach. This method allows for a nuanced interpretation of the collected data by assigning weighted values to various contributing factors. The research assessed five major dimensions—individual, interpersonal, institutional, community and societal causal factors. The findings reveal that societal and institutional causes significantly contribute to VAWG, while individual factors play a comparatively minor role. These insights point to the structural and systemic nature of VAWG in academic settings, emphasizing the need for broad reforms. Based on the results, practical recommendations, including cultural reorientation, stricter institutional policies, and gender-sensitive training are recommended. By applying FSE in this context, the study offers a novel approach to evaluating and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in higher education, contributing to a valuable model for future research and institutional policymaking. The results offer critical insights that can guide interventions to foster safer and more inclusive university environments in Brazil.

The creation of Environmental Protected Areas reflects a model of environmental conservation that, while relevant for biodiversity protection, can generate conflicts with traditional agricultural practices and impact the food security of local communities. This article investigated the impacts of implementing the Macaé de Cima Environmental Protected Area (RJ) on agricultural production and the food security of farming families. The research adopted a qualitative approach, including a literature review, geospatial data analysis, and interviews conducted with local farmers between 2022 and 2023. The results indicate that environmental restrictions and increased tourism significantly altered land use, replacing traditional agricultural practices with less diverse, agrochemical-dependent crops, while the reduction in self-consumption led to greater reliance on external markets. These changes underscore the need for public policies that reconcile environmental protection with the socioeconomic and food well-being of local communities.