The Brazilian Class System
Despite the mixing of ethnicities, there is a class system in Brazil.
Few Brazilians could be described as racist, although social discrimination on the basis of skin colour is a daily occurrence.
In general, people with darker brown skin are economically and socially disadvantaged.
The middle and upper classes often have only brief interaction with the lower classes - usually maids, drivers, etc.
Class is determined by economic status and skin colour.
There is a great disparity in wage differentials--and therefore lifestyle and social aspirations--among the different classes
Although women make up 40% of the Brazilian workforce, they are typically found in lower paid jobs such as teaching, administrative support, and nursing.
The 1988 constitution prohibits discrimination against women, but inequities still exist. The one place where women are achieving equality is in the government.