Gender inequality and women's professional experiences: reflections from a film screening and discussion by the PET-Saúde at Feevale University

Abstract

This article aims to report  the experience of the event “Cine-Pet: Gender Inequality,” held in November 2025, focusing on understanding the contemporary manifestations of gender inequalities in professional and academic contexts. The purpose of the event was to promote a space for critical reflection through the screening of a short film followed by a debate, encouraging attentive listening, the exchange of experiences, and the collective construction of knowledge. The research is characterized as qualitative and structured as an experience report. The event was held online, with the participation of fifteen women, mostly from the health field. Data production involved the screening of the film, moderated discussion, participant observation, and the application of a questionnaire containing open- and closed-ended questions, ensuring the anonymity of the participants. The analysis of the reports showed that gender inequalities continue to shape practices and relations in women’s daily lives, especially in environments marked by gender hierarchies and strong demands for productivity and results. Five key points were identified for investigation: professional devaluation, gender hierarchy, motherhood penalty, sexualization of the female body, and harassment. The testimonies revealed the constant need to reaffirm competence, the penalization of motherhood as an obstacle to professional advancement, and the persistence of harassment and sexualization practices in the workplace. It is concluded that, although there is a set of legal norms and guarantees aimed at promoting equal rights, their implementation remains limited, allowing gender inequalities to persist in a naturalized manner in social and professional life. The event demonstrated the relevance of dialogical spaces for listening to experiences and articulating different forms of knowledge in the health field in dialogue with Gender Studies, contributing to the strengthening of potential collective actions to confront inequalities.