Family policies in Brazil

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the emergence and development of Brazilian family policies, concomitant with the evolutionary process of the social protection system. It is supported by research data resulting from studies of different family policies. Moreover, it reflects on the potentialities and obstacles in promoting better living conditions for the family. On the one hand, it concludes that there have been advances, namely, a new legal definition of the family, affording it a more egalitarian, plural perspective; criminalization of violence against women; and a decrease in extreme poverty through assistance programs targeting families. On the other, the precariousness of child care services, the strong maternalist bias in the policies to combat poverty, and the few initiatives focused on supporting the balance between work, and family demands reproduce the social inequalities found among Brazilian families.