“ELAS NÃO!”: VIOLÊNCIA SIMBÓLICA E MINISTÉRIO PASTORAL FEMININO NA CONVENÇÃO BATISTA DO ESTADO DO ESPÍRITO SANTO

Abstract

The present Professional Master's Dissertation in Religious Studies investigates the symbolic violence faced by female pastors in the Baptist Convention of the State of Espírito Santo (CBEES). Recognizing these experiences as reflections of the rigid structures that permeate the religious field, the study seeks to understand how such symbolic mechanisms manifest themselves in the exercise of pastoral ministry by women. The research is theoretically grounded in Pierre Bourdieu's reflections on habitus and symbolic violence. We hypothesize that the presence of women in pastoral ministry is hindered due to power struggles in the religious field, where a habitus prevails that shapes the idea of the subordination of the female gender to the male. Through bibliographic, documentary, and field research, the general objective is to map and listen to female Baptist pastors from Espírito Santo, giving voice to their experiences and analyzing relevant aspects of their insertion in the denominational context. The results reveal a deeply rooted perception that prevents women from ascending to leadership positions in religion. Furthermore, the symbolic violence to which pastors are subjected appears as a result of a fundamentalist reading of the biblical text, which reinforces male monopoly within the field. With the aim of promoting dialogue on the topic and contributing to the construction of an egalitarian and safe environment, the research is not limited to the documentation and analysis of the phenomenon, but also proposes as a product a dialogue circle with female Baptist pastors of the CBB to disseminate the results obtained and broaden the debate on the issue at hand.