Women as Agents of Change : a Critical Visual Analysis of the Representation of Brazilian Indigenous Women Activists

Sammanfattning: The Brazilian climate crisis has become a frequent topic in both international and national media. During Bolsonaro's presidency, Brazil prioritised economic development over protecting Indigenous Peoples and the environment, resulting in backlash from Indigenous Peoples and their organisations. This thesis aims to bring awareness to the presence of Indigenous women as agents of social change in the context of the environmental crisis. The study will explore how Indigenous women activists participating in the First and Second National March of Indigenous Women in Brazil were represented in photojournalistic images from Brazilian alternative news media outlets. By conducting a critical visual analysis, the research aims to uncover how these women addressed the struggle to protect Indigenous lands and how their representation challenges power structures and contributes to broader social change. The images will be analysed using an interpretive approach to representation that focuses on the intersection of gender, ethnicity, and beliefs. Furthermore, the theoretical concept of power will be employed to identify power dynamics represented in the selected images. The research reveals that Indigenous women use their cultural identity as a means to advocate for their rights. Cultural elements and practices symbolise their unique cultural identity and serve as a form of resistance and solidarity within Indigenous communities. Additionally, the representation of Indigenous women visualises different expressions of power relations. Notably, power-over, power-to, and power-with. Indigenous women activists challenge power dynamics by drawing strength from their intersecting social identities. In essence, this thesis suggests that Indigenous women are not passive victims but active agents of social change in the face of the climate crisis. Finally, the media’s portrayal of these women can play a vital role in safeguarding their culture and lands.