The Case of Sônia Maria de Jesus and Intersectional Vulnerabilization in the Context of Contemporary Slave Labor

Abstract

Introduction: This article investigates contemporary slave labor in Brazil, with emphasis on the domestic environment as a space of invisibility and perpetuation of violence. The analysis centers on the case of Sônia Maria de Jesus to discuss how structural racism and gender inequality, articulated through categories of intersectional vulnerability and biopolitics, sustain systematic practices of exploitation targeting Black, poor women. The study also assesses the limits and challenges faced by public policies and the justice system in confronting these dynamics of oppression.

Objective: To demonstrate, through the case study of Sônia Maria de Jesus, the extent to which domestic work functions as a space for the reproduction of violence and the denial of fundamental rights to vulnerable Black women, assessing the effectiveness of state and legal responses in relation to national and international human rights standards.

Methodology: Qualitative research combining i) case study; ii) documentary analysis; and iii) literature and doctrinal (normative) review.

Results: In contemporary Brazil, there is a persistent historical pattern of domestic servitude marked by restrictions on basic rights such as education, healthcare, and social interaction, along with evidence of practices that constitute conditions analogous to slavery. Weaknesses are observed in state action and judicial decisions that may lead to revictimization. Gaps are evident in the implementation of policies for prevention, reparation, and non-repetition, especially at the intersections of race, gender, poverty, and disability.

Conclusion: The domestic environment remains a key site of exploitation for Black women, where the intersection of gendered racism and social vulnerability sustains contemporary forms of slavery. State responses have proven insufficient, requiring stronger alignment with international human rights standards, reinforcement of victim-centered policies, and effective public monitoring mechanisms. This study contributes to the debate by integrating analytical categories such as intersectionality and biopolitics with normative frameworks, enhancing the diagnosis of violations and guiding more just and effective responses.

KEYWORDS: contemporary slavery; gendered racism; Human Rights; intersectionality; social vulnerability.