Social Scientist’s Day: Stepfather inspires student with gender, social and political concepts

In academia, at non-governmental organizations and in the public sector, social scientists play a significant role in understanding and transforming society. Through analysis and interventions, these professionals help promote social justice, gender equality, inclusion and understanding of social dynamics. Accordingly, today, July 22, which is Social Scientist’s Day in Brazil, we interviewed Clara Braga, a fourth-year student at Fundação Getulio Vargas’ School of Social Sciences (FGV CPDOC), as part of our “Inspiring Examples” series of articles about different professions in 2024.

Clara’s stepfather, Walter Ribeiro, grew up in a violent environment in the Rio de Janeiro shanty town of Mangueira and didn’t graduate from high school. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of education to his stepdaughter, not least as a possible way of improving her living conditions. She developed an interest in studying and was also encouraged to think about social problems.

“During the 17 years that we lived together under the same roof, I decided to do a university degree, which I had wanted to do since my first contact with related subjects at high school, as a posthumous tribute to his influence on my life,” Clara says.

During the following interview, Clara emphasizes her relationship with her stepfather and how he encouraged her to study social sciences. She also talks about the motivations for her undergraduate studies and the advantages of studying at FGV CPDOC.

Read on to see the full interview with the student:

Who inspired you to study social sciences?

When I think back to my professional and academic development, which was born from critically observing the surroundings of the stone jungle that is Rio de Janeiro, I think of my stepfather Walter Ribeiro. In line with the message in Zeca Pagodinho’s song “Ogum,” he taught me some practical concepts related to social stratification, gender roles and public policy before I came across any renowned authors in the social sciences.

I was encouraged to think about social problems and I took a liking to study. During the 17 years that we lived together under the same roof, I decided to do a university degree, which I had wanted to do since my first contact with related subjects at high school, as a posthumous tribute to his influence on my life.

Why did he inspire you?

I believe that I ended up studying at a school where social phenomena are analyzed and studied because I always asked a lot of questions when I was a child. I asked so many questions (what life was like for dinosaurs, why the ancient Greeks and Egyptians believed in their mythological gods, why people have different accents and many other things that resonated in my young mind) that my stepfather thought the only solution was to get me many books.

Despite living amid constant urban violence in the Mangueira shanty town and not having the opportunity to graduate from high school, he was aware of the importance of building my interest in education, including as a possible means of improving my living conditions.

Until his death in 2020, the same year I went to study at FGV, this man supported me as a political activist in my teens, continued to buy me books as gifts, took an interest in my artistic interventions at school and, most importantly, encouraged me to dream.

What is your relationship with this person?

He was introduced to me as a stepfather, but he brought the tangible meaning of what the categories of “father and mother” represent by embracing my ideas and words.

I’m eternally grateful to many people, but especially him. He worked in the informal job market (as many Brazilians do today) and spent his days struggling to ensure the well-being of my younger sister and me.

Do you remember something notable this person said?

Definitely the most striking thing was, “Daughter, don’t let a path full of thorns make you forget that the thorns come together with roses!”

What motivated you to take the course?

My motivation for graduating with a bachelor’s degree in social sciences is driven by my vision of making a significant contribution to Brazilian society. I chose FGV CPDOC because it stands out for offering a complete education, encompassing students’ professional, personal and academic development. The school’s infrastructure provides a wide range of resources, including technological ones, which are essential for training versatile professionals who are prepared for today’s challenges.

The interdisciplinary nature of the course and the excellence of the professors at FGV enrich the academic experience, allowing for an in-depth and diverse understanding of the social sciences. I am currently focusing on studying the anthropology and historiography of Afro-Amerindian religions and I’m also doing an introductory scientific research project at the school’s Archive Center.

In addition, studying at the school facilitates the continuity of my social and scientific dissemination projects, creating an environment conducive to the development of a more complete educational and social future. When I graduate from FGV CPDOC, I will be able to make an effective contribution to a better Brazil, applying the knowledge and skills I have acquired for the benefit of society and promoting educational and social progress.

To find out more about Fundação Getulio Vargas’ School of Social Sciences (FGV CPDOC), visit its website.

This article is part of a special series of articles called Inspiring Examples.

See the first article in the series, to mark World Communications Day.