Mulheres e crimes de drogas na Paraíba : um estudo sobre o ingresso e a participação feminina no tráfico

Abstract

The drug trafficking combat policies in Brazil in recent decades have increasingly impacted women. Between 2005 and 2023, the number of women incarcerated in the country increased by 251%, with more than 50% of criminal charges against the female prison population stemming from drug-related offenses, such as drug trafficking, association with trafficking, and international drug trafficking. Thus, the processes of female criminalization, which predominantly affect Black, young, and poor women, are intensified when they become involved in the illegal drug market. In this context, this dissertation aims to analyze, from the perspective of incarcerated women in Paraíba, the relationships between women and drug trafficking, understanding their involvement from entry into the drug market to their roles within it. To achieve this goal, the research was developed in three stages: a literature review, field research, and, finally, analysis of the collected data. The field research involved interviews with women convicted of drug-related crimes in the following female correctional facilities in Paraíba: Maria Júlia Maranhão Women's Reeducation Penitentiary in João Pessoa; Campina Grande Women's Penitentiary in Campina Grande; Cajazeiras Women's Public Jail in Cajazeiras; and Patos Regional Women's Prison in Patos. A total of 17 interviews were conducted, 8 in João Pessoa and 9 in cities in the interior of the state. The data analysis was grounded in Critical Criminology and the results were discussed across seven main categories: (1) Sociodemographic Data; (2) Public Policies; (3) Income and Family Composition; (4) Criminalization; (5) Entry into Drug Trafficking; (6) Roles in Drug Trafficking; (7) Future Perspectives. The data indicate that the interviewed women reflect the profile of the female prison population in Brazil: predominantly Black, with low educational levels, aged between 35 and 45 years, and heads of households. Their trajectories are marked by limited access to public policies, scarce job opportunities, and economic hardship, factors consistent with the feminization of poverty. Regarding entry into drug trafficking, most of the participants became involved before the age of 18, revealing a reality intertwined with child labor. They cited financial necessity as the main reason for their involvement. In terms of their roles, the most common activities were drug transportation and retail sales, which are precarious functions with high exposure to police action and repression. The results suggest that gender, race, and class dynamics are deeply embedded in the ways women enter and operate within drug trafficking in Paraíba, further exacerbating the vulnerabilities of an already marginalized group. Based on these conclusions, this dissertation seeks to contribute to the critical debate on public policies and punitivism in Brazil. It is hoped, therefore, that this study will foster new reflections aligned with critical perspectives and committed to breaking away from prohibitionist and punitive policies, which disproportionately and severely impact women.