igualitárias

Igualitárias is the feminine plural form of the Portuguese adjective igualitário, used to describe people, groups, or policies that advocate or embody egalitarian principles. The term derives from igual (equal) and the suffix -itário, which forms words related to a movement or quality. In usage, igualitárias can refer to individuals who promote social, economic, or political equality, or to movements, organizations, or policies characterized as egalitarian.

In contemporary Portuguese, the term appears in discussions about gender equality, labor rights, access to education and health care, and anti-discrimination efforts. It is commonly used in contexts such as políticas igualitárias (egalitarian policies), justiça social (social justice), and debates within feminism and other social movements. The expression can function as a descriptor or, less commonly, as a shorthand for groups of advocates, such as “as igualitárias” referring to people aligned with egalitarian aims.

Related concepts include igualdade, a general notion of equality; igualitarismo or egalitarianismo, philosophical frameworks that prioritize equal distribution of goods or opportunities; and políticas públicas aimed at reducing disparities. The term is typically employed in academic, policy, and activist discourse to emphasize movements or proposals oriented toward reducing unequal outcomes rather than merely recognizing equal rights.

See also: igualdade; igualitarismo; justiça social; políticas públicas.