LIMA: Women in Brazil are livid at the continued use of their bodies to promote the country. They argue that by constantly referring to Brazilian women via their bodies, women in the country will continue to be treated as objects. “I am just constantly angry,” said Rio de Janeiro resident and advertising manager Monique Sanchez, who told Bikyamasr.com that “these types of contests that attempt to tell who has the best body are just examples of what we deal with on a regular basis here.” She doesn't mind beauty pageants, but the Miss Bumbum 2012 contest, which chooses Brazil's best female behind, has hit a nerve. “We are curvy women and these things like this contest make it worse for women on the street. We are hollered at and assaulted too often. It's fine for the beach, but as a nationwide contest it seems too much,” she added. Miss Bumbum is going forward, however, as more than 500 competitors entered the contest each year, and finalists are narrowed to 27 — one from each of Brazil's Federative Units, The Huffington Post reported. Online voting will determine 15 finalists, who will travel to São Paolo in November to compete for the big crown. Still, for many women who want to see women's empowerment be a center piece in the country, this contest highlights almost everything they have fought against. “It is just about the body and nothing more. It is sad that it still happens,” added Sanchez.
