Federal Deputy Tabata Amaral (PSB-SP) said the proposed law on misogyny will clearly define criminal practices and should be voted on this semester [1, 3].
The legislation seeks to address a rising wave of violence and discrimination against women in Brazil by equating misogyny with racism [5]. By establishing clear legal boundaries, the bill intends to create a judicial framework for prosecuting hate-driven discrimination based on gender.
Amaral said the law is designed to target specific criminal conduct rather than general rudeness. "Ser babaca não é crime," she said [2], or "Being a jerk is not a crime."
The deputy has taken a leadership role in the process, saying that coordinating the working group for the bill is an "urgent mission" [4]. This effort follows a period of legislative movement, as the proposal was approved by the Chamber in April 2026 [4].
To ensure the bill's passage, Amaral is focusing on building a legislative coalition within the Chamber of Deputies. "Vou buscar consenso, a gente vai construir a maioria na Câmara," she said [3], noting her intent to seek consensus and build a majority.
The legislative push comes amid broader discussions in Brasília regarding the limits of free speech versus the protection of marginalized groups. The bill aims to provide a definitive legal distinction between offensive behavior and actionable crimes of hate, and discrimination [2].
“"Ser babaca não é crime"”
The movement to equate misogyny with racism represents a significant shift in Brazil's legal approach to gender-based hate. If passed, the law would provide prosecutors with a more powerful tool to address systemic discrimination, moving beyond individual acts of violence to criminalize the ideology of hate that fuels such behavior.
