Leitoras

Leitoras is a Portuguese term that designates female readers. It is the feminine plural form of leitor, meaning a person who reads. Therefore, leitoras refers specifically to a group of women who read, or more broadly to a female readership in a given context. The masculine form, leitores, is used for male readers or mixed-gender groups, while the feminine form emphasizes gender.

In contemporary usage, leitoras is common in contexts that highlight gender or target a female audience. Some writers and publishers use inclusive language by pairing forms, for example leitoras e leitores, to acknowledge both women and men. Style guides and publishers vary in their approach to gendered forms, and in some formal contexts the masculine form may be used to refer to a mixed or unspecified audience.

Leitoras appear in academic, cultural, and commercial discourse about reading practices. In literary studies and reception theory, the term is used to examine how women readers engage with texts, their interpretive frameworks, and how gender can shape meaning. In marketing and media, projetos aimed at women readers may emphasize topics, genres, or formats that resonate with female audiences. The term also appears in the titles of magazines, blogs, book clubs, and other communities centered on women readers.

Ver também: leitores; leitura; literatura feminina; estudos de recepção.