In Portugal, Luana Piovani cries and says she is a feminist: ‘In Brazil we are more stallholders’

Those who expected the “controversial Luana Piovani” of many interviews circulating on the internet were disappointed. Or rather, he was surprised. Luana, who spoke to a group of women at the premiere of the Oráculo project, in the municipality of Sesimbra, 40 km from Lisbon, was different from the one who appears on the web speaking without restraint about various subjects.

This Saturday afternoon, following International Women’s Day (on which many flowers are given and few changes are made), was cold and rainy. But the room at the charming Cine Teatro João Mota, which holds approximately 200 people, was full of women of all ages and accents.

Without glamour, luxurious clothes or elaborate makeup, she, who now more comfortably assumes the titles of activist and feminist, was a kind of friend and advisor to the women present. Of course, his acidic, sometimes sarcastic sense of humor was present. But it was rarely used because, for more than two hours, pain was expressed.

Sometimes in an armchair, sometimes standing and at times sitting on the edge of the stage with people, Piovani had two pre-established topics for the conversation: “Awakening and undertaking”.

The need for financial independence and the perception of violence experienced on a daily basis (not just physical violence) were widely discussed and vented. “I know the shame, it’s very humiliating to be beaten, but it’s even more shameful to hit! Don’t be silent! For your children, for your neighbors, for your cousins, for your friends, for those you don’t know, don’t be silent. Report it”, said Luana.

She, who normally presents herself with a strong and powerful voice, this time appeared with a choked tone. Her eyes welled up at times. “I wanted you to see me crying. But I didn’t cry like an actress. I cried like the people I am. And I like it because I want you to see me as a human being, because I am exactly what you are: abused women” . She also said that awakening is saying no: “I don’t want to, I don’t allow it, I can’t, I won’t allow it”.

Cultural producer and journalist Magda Burity, and lawyer Mariana Simões, joined Luana on stage to bring a little of their experiences. Magda spoke about representation and the importance of women seeing all women, regardless of social class and skin color: “We live in an extremely violent society anchored in social media. The women up here are all very different but there are very similar stories, and this can be a prevention of violence”.

Mariana, who is currently studying for a master’s degree in family and childhood, spoke to the F5 about the need for changes in Portugal: “in addition to having to educate and re-educate, we need to change the law from above. Because if a woman feels that she is not safe, she will file a complaint and if there is impunity for that act, she will not will report it.”

Much has been said about differences between the way the courts in both countries deal with cases of violence against women, as well as their stance in each context in which they are inserted. In Portugal, according to Mariana, civil society movements such as petitions, protests and strikes make no difference in making real changes happen in laws that tend not to protect women.

In this, Luana disagreed: “I think that in Portugal it doesn’t change much because you don’t do it. In Brazil we are more united and more arrogant. We ‘set fire to Rome’. We take the shovel and take to the streets. We get in people’s faces. Here you are very elegant, you are very chic”, eliciting a slightly nervous laugh from practically everyone there.

Not even the cold and torrential rain discouraged Portuguese friends Mafalda Alves and Bárbara Teixeira, both 18 years old, from participating in the Oracle. “I’ve been following Luana since 2020 and I think what she does on social media is very important,” said Mafalda. “As she is older, she is an inspiration, especially when working with women”, agreed Bárbara.

Silvia, 57 years old, Isabel, 61 and Manuela, 67, all members of the Dias family, born in the region, heard about the event that would take place at the city’s Theater and decided to attend, even though they only knew Piovani through his work on Portuguese soap operas. “We came because there is still a lot to do for women”, said Isabel.

Asked by F5 felt comfortable being classified as a feminist, Luana replied: “If a woman says she is not a feminist, she shouldn’t even vote, because she only votes thanks to feminists. We are all feminists, whether you like it or not. If you fight for freedom , for the right to life and respect, we are all feminists.”

The report also questioned how criticism about the lack of sisterhood towards famous women with whom it disagrees “hits” her: “They don’t! Do you know what ‘hits me’? Violence! I cry alone, I say ‘my god, How can I help?’. It makes me cry.”

After listening to a mother’s testimony about the difficulty of dealing with her children, Luana talked about her experience of motherhood: “I am the mother of two men; it is a very unfair struggle. The habitat they live in only helps this image and to this sexist playbook. I fight one every day because everything makes my children tend to be sexist. Portuguese society, Brazilian society, my children’s father, my children’s father’s friends and the choices of my children and my children’s father.”

About her ex-husband, Pedro Scooby, with whom she fought in court in Portugal over pension and custody of their three children, and about the ex-boyfriend who physically attacked her, Dado Dolabella, she said little directly and at no point did she use her names.

But she shared that after the violence suffered, despite being in love with the aggressor, she protected herself in any way she could: “For me, he died. And then I experienced my grief, my things. We have to wake up even if it hurts”, she said calmly to your attentive audience, as a tip for anyone who, unfortunately, may go through the same thing.