History and Literature are fields nuanced by criticism. The use of literary sources as an instrument for rescuing memories about wars, crises and transformations reinforces the focus on the 20th century. With a qualitative approach, the choice falls on authors who used words as critical points. When writing about idiosyncrasies and contexts, Virginia Woolf (1882- 1941) and Clarice Lispector (1920-1977) — in the search for autonomy and freedom — point to interpretations of individual, family, and collective memories. They transit between freedom and autonomy, transgressions between feminist waves and extreme situations. The writing of both authors highlights the notion of perspective on the unknown and the future. Between places and anguish transcribed in novels, short stories and essays reveal the paradoxes of lived times, in addition to incessant daydreams in search of freedom. 

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an emergency health crisis, in addition to having far-reaching economic, organizational and psychosocial impacts, with previously more vulnerable populations such as people from sexual and gender minorities appearing to be most affected. In this sense, the present dissertation chose to carry out two different studies, which would investigate some of these impacts focusing in a Brazilian population. The first was a study of quantitative nature and focused on gender perspectives, evaluating aspects related to work-related quality of life (WRQoL) during the pandemic in a sample of Brazilian nationals composed of 190 women and 147 men. Results showed that women reported significantly higher levels of COVID-19- related fears, and lower levels of overall WRQoL, well-being, career satisfaction, and control over work. Gender, fear, and the negative impacts of COVID-19 were significant predictors of overall WRQoL, of career satisfaction, and of control over work. The second study was of qualitative nature and sought to give voice to sexual minorities, contemplating the perceptions of 65 lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) Portuguese and Brazilian people regarding the psychosocial impacts of the pandemic on their lives. The thematic analysis of participants' responses revealed 9 recurring themes, encompassing 18 subcategories to occur: mental health (depression, anxiety, fear, anger, and loneliness), isolation (social distancing and leisure impediments), relationships (family and friends), work -related problems, education-related problems, financial problems, changes (behavioral changes and opportunity to grow), coping (seeking support, accessing information and physical activities), and LGBTQI topics (health barriers, going back into the closet, pride celebration events , and online dating). The results of this dissertation seek to contribute to the analysis of the psychosocial effects of the COVID19 pandemic on the increased vulnerabilities of sexual and gender minorities in Brazilian context, demonstrating specific challenges exacerbated by preexisting social inequalities.

The aim of this study was to compute and validate trunk transverse surface area (TTSA) estimation equations to be used assessing the swimmer's drag force according to competitive level by gender. One group of 130 swimmers (54 females and 76 males) was used to compute the TTSA estimation equations and another group of 132 swimmers (56 females and 76 males) were used for its validations. Swimmers were photographed in the transverse plane from above, on land, in the upright and hydrodynamic position. The TTSA was measured from the swimmer's photo with specific software. It was also measured the height, body mass, biacromial diameter, chest sagital diameter (CSD) and the chest perimeter (CP). With the first group of swimmers it was computed the TTSA estimation equations based on stepwise multiple regression models from the selected anthropometrical variables. The TTSA prediction equations were significant and with a prediction level qualitatively considered as moderate. All equations included only the CP and the CSD in the final models. In all prediction models there were no significant differences between assessed and estimated mean TTSA. Coefficients of determination for the linear regression models between assessed and estimated TTSA were moderate and significant. More than 80% of the plots were within the 95% interval confidence for the Bland-Altman analysis in both genders. So, TTSA estimation equations that are easy to be computed by coached and researchers were developed. All equations accomplished the validation criteria adopted.

This study aims to investigate if engaging in physical activity (PA) and gender influences people’s entrepreneurial intention (EI). A survey for measuring EI and PA was developed and administered to the general population. The data were collected with a questionnaire distributed across all continental Portuguese regions. A two-way analysis of variance was used to test the influence of PA level and gender in EI. The results highlight that PA and gender have an impact on EI. This study’s main practical implication is that evidence was found that people need to be involved in more PA, especially in high PA level, because the results show that there is an association with increased levels of EI. This paper contributes to filling a gap in the literature by identifying the importance of PA for the increase of EI. This relationship may be a consequence of skills promoted by the practice of PA and also the development of some personal psychological and cognitive characteristics such as autonomy, risk tolerance, and leadership. The main implication resulting from this study is that it is essential to develop and booster PA into society, namely through PA programmes in organisations, not only for improving persons’ health condition but also as a social benefit, that can promote social innovation and entrepreneurship.

The spatial transition of individuals and their families between the different contexts of home, work/school, and leisure activities, as well as the time spent during this «interface», are attracting growing attention from sociologists. The main subject of the present study relates to the transportation of children to and from day-care, school or extracurricular activities, and the strategies mothers and fathers apply to managing this routine form of mobility. In an analysis of the various dimensions of this parental task, attention is paid to the central place children occupy in today’s families, strengthening parents’ protective instincts. The data presented come from a study of households in two zones in Portugal with diverse geographical and demographic characteristics. The quantitative and qualitative data indicate differences between men and women in types and patterns of mobility, and also in the access to and use of means of transport. The daily school run, in its broadest sense, can be taken as an activity pertaining to the domain of «caring» and to a certain extent this is reflected in its gendered character.

Relatório de um projecto europeu financiado pelo Fundo Social Europeu e coordenado pela Vigil-Tamen (Berlim), com a participação de equipas de Alemanha, Hungria, França e Portugal. A primeira parte deste relatório versa sobre considerações teóricas no que toca a questões de género e de família, bem como a situação específica de Portugal relativamente a políticas sociais e a promoção de igualdade de género. A segunda parte apresenta resultados e análises da investigação levada a cabo na Beira Interior sobre o papel de homens na família, e políticas e experiências de responsáveis e colaboradores masculinos de pequenas e médias empresas em prol da articulação da vida profissional e doméstica. Report on research in Portugal in the framework of the project RoMann (The role of men – articulation of professional and private lives in small and medium enterprises in Germany, France, Hungary and Portugal). The first part of this report is dedicated to theoretical considerations of gender and the family, and to specific Portuguese conditions in the field of social policies and the advancement of gender equality. The second part presents results of the research in Beira Interior about the role of men in the family, and the policies and experiences of executives and male employees in small and medium-sized businesses in the articulation of private and professional lives.

For many years the study of "race" relations was dominated by paradigms—of assimilationism and multiculturalism—which highlighted difference and division (as a problem, or a virtue). In more recent years the idea of racial and cultural mixing—creolization or hybridization— has become an important concept in ethnic and racial studies. The starting point of this article is the observation that the idea of racial and cultural mixture—hybridity or mestiçagem—was a key ideological feature of Portuguese colonialism in its last decades. If hybridity is not therefore a new discourse in Portugal, what is the place for it today and what kind of hybridity is being referred to? What might the Portuguese case tell us about discourses of hybridity more generally? The article explores these questions through a combined visual and linguistic analysis of the lifestyle magazine Afro as a site where contemporary discourses about "race" intertwine.

Review of a book focusing women active in Christian religious missionary work in Africa, Asia and Oceania in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. This theme is discussed with a view to the changing gender ideologies of middle-class Europeans at the time, the major sponsors of the missions.

The last two decades were characterized by an increase in attention on entrepreneurship. An emerging trend in the literature is associated with the different contributions that genders may have regarding entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intentions. This paper assesses gender impact on entrepreneurial intention in a peripheral region of Europe. The methodology used is quantitative and based on a sample of 1114 observations. The obtained results suggest that women’s perceived behavioral control does not have a less direct positive impact on entrepreneurial intention when compared to men’s. Women’s personal attitude has a less direct positive impact on entrepreneurial intention when compared to men’s, as social norms, on the one hand, have a less direct positive impact on women’s personal attitude when compared to men’s, and, on the other hand, have a less direct positive impact on women’s perceived behavioral control when compared to men’s. Finally, it was also verified that social norms have a less positive indirect impact through personal attitude and perceived behavioral control on women’s entrepreneurial intention when compared to men’s. These findings contribute to enlighten the literature by strengthening the theoretical framework on women’s entrepreneurial intention in peripheral regions. Regarding practical contributions, suggestions are addressed to public decision makers, universities, and civil society, to adopt practices to increase entrepreneurship in women. This research is original because it is the first to perform this study in Portugal, a peripheral region of Europe.

The present research focuses on gender representations in Portuguese EFL [English as Foreign Language] coursebooks adopted between 2015 and 2021 for grades 4, 6 and 9. The research draws on a conceptual framework that integrates gender theory with intersectionality, thus broadening the understanding of gender discrimination with implications on EFL material analysis. Methodological procedures privileged content analysis, qualitatively enriched by specific exemplary cases of subtle stereotyping and intersectional segmentation of the gender concept by ethnicity, age and ability. Findings suggest increased gender parity in terms of visibility of male and female characters in text, image and audio, and fair representation of men and women in mix- gender dialogues and identical opportunities to speak first. Nevertheless, stereotyped representations of male and female characters in action are apparent. Despite authors’ effort to provide equal gender portrayal, evidence shows that gender stereotypes linger on, broadened by intersectional approach. There is an overwhelming omission of disabilities, and also invisibility of the elder, besides reduced Asian and Brown male or female presence. Overall, this research contributes to the broader discourse on gender representation and underscores the importance of critically examining teaching materials for their potential impact on students’ perceptions and identities. It is our belief the emerging findings have implications for curriculum development and pedagogical practices aimed at promoting gender equity and inclusivity in education.