Rocinha is the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro. Check out the differences in land use from this aerial photograph! (Source: Guilherme Fonseca, 2005).
The first time I heard the term favela, I was a 20-year old college student enrolled in a History of Latin America class. I remember being astonished and outraged–almost to the point of betrayal–to learn that between 1/3 and 1/5 of the population of Rio lives in a favela. That is a lot of people never to have heard about!
As I came to understand, the word favela is used to describe low income settlements in Brazil. These settlements are fundamentally characterized by poverty, ‘self-help’ construction, ambiguous legal statuses, isolation, searing public sentiment, and the influx of organized crime.
Originally, favelas were formed as illegal squatter settlements when emancipated slaves–turned soldiers–were not compensated for their efforts in the War of Canudos circa 1895. The soldiers returned to Rio and established a settlement–in protest–on Morro da Providência (which sat in front of the old War Ministry). The government did nothing. Over time, this settlement grew in population, attracted new inhabitants, and ran out of space.
Before long, similar favelas existed in several locations, marking Rio distinguishably by contiguous low and high income settlements. Due to recent tenor laws, many favelas are no longer illegal, but are still in the process of receiving public and regulated services, as well as reversing their unwarranted stigmas associated with squalor and disease.
The physical location and layout of the hastily constructed communities makes the favelas of Rio particularly unique. As opposed to the wealthy living in the hills above the city, that is where favelas have opportunistically thrived.
A view of the 'self help' construction at favela Dona Marta
Unfortunately, drug trafficking has also thrived. Favelas are not only home to thousands of law-abiding residents, but due to the high density housing, steep slopes, and winding streets, favelas are also a perfect safe-haven for illegal activity. In Rio, most favelas are controlled by drug trafficking factions vying for territory in which to operate. Traffickers are often at war with one another to obtain exclusive rights to these areas, and are often at war with the police. The danger of stray bullets and the stronghold of drug traffickers also makes life for favela residents extremely challenging.
Luckily, media and technology have become one of the most powerful tools to effectuate change and overcome poverty in these extreme circumstances.
Which brings me to my job! I use technology in order to connect people, ideas, and resources. Using these tools, lives can improve here in Rio, and information can be disseminated throughout world. Others do not have to be as shocked as I was to learn about these communities.
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Leah, according to the World Bank, Brazil has one of the most unequal wealth distributions in the world. Historically, the growth of favelas can be attributed to waves of migration. People from the Northeast, fed up with failing crops, migrated south to try their luck at city life. The cities could not absorb them fast enough. Owning to their lack of skills, many were left without jobs or with low paying jobs. Today, many favela residents work in the informal sector, while many others are Rio’s doormen, nannies, taxi drivers, waiters, cleaning ladies, delivery men etc. Although there are many shops and restaurants located inside the favela, the majority of residents commute to work outside of their communities. This way, there still is a noticeable class distinction and social stigma caused by the type of employment held.
You mentioned a social stigma against these communities. Is that also held against the people who live there and commute into the city for work? I guess, I’m wondering there about economic class issues outside of the favelas.
Let’s forget the term favela!
In the literature, low income communities in Brazil are called favelas and their residents are called favelados. These are both terms I desperately tried to avoid while writing my master’s thesis! Although it’s important to know the terminology in academia, distinguishing these communities as favelas, and their residents as favelados, we are only perpetuating the stereotypes and misconceptions that currently exist. Favelas are communities, comprised of residents, similar to any neighborhood throughout the world. That is how they would like to be seen, and that is how I will try to address them in the future. Thank you for bringing this up, Amanda! This is one of those things that is learned on the ground, and not through a book.
Mario Bruno has a really good article about “What is Favela,” since like you said, it is hard to actually describe in terms now a days a favela because they vary so widely. (Even though the term is so strongly felt among everyone who lives in Rio.)
There is also another really interesting article by Patricia Birman in the book, Vida Sob Cerco, called, “Favela é comunidade.” It is about the usage of the term, “comunidade” versus “favela.”
It is good to see that media like your own can help change the stigma about these communities. Such a great idea! I can’t wait for next week!