A interseccionalidade no acesso a água e ao saneamento básico: a existência da desigualdade de gênero, cor e raça

Abstract

The inequality in access to sanitation in Brazil is relevant and contributes to social inequality, especially affecting the population living in irregular urban areas, with an emphasis on gender and race relations. Although the country has advanced in sanitation planning in urban areas, certain social classes still face problems of lack of adequate sanitation. Inequalities in access to public services and human rights are evident in both rural and urban areas, with a clear disparity in favor of urban centers. The restriction of access to water, together with gender inequality, undermines the construction of a democratic culture. Women, in particular, are identified as the youngest, and the lack of adequate sanitation affects their lives and those of their families. The project in question aims to analyze and demonstrate inequality in access to public sanitation services in Brazil, highlighting gender and race relations and including public policies. The present study is based on data from the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) and SNIS (National Information System on Sanitation), as variables selected for analysis were the years 2000, 2008, 2010 2012, 2018 and 2021, the choice of the respective years consist of the most recent censuses from the National Basic Sanitation Survey and the National Sanitation Information System. Through the data obtained from the demographic census carried out by the IBGE, the preparation of urban households in which residents are classified as white, black or brown was considered. IBGE data from 2018 show that the black and brown population in Brazil faces inequalities in access to sanitation services compared to the white population. The lack of access to the water network affects about 17.9% of the black or brown population, while only 11.5% of the white population faces this problem. In the case of sewage collection, the difference is even greater, with 44.5% of the black and brown population without access, compared to 27.9% of the white population. This inequality leads to precarious housing conditions, compromising the health and well-being of these communities. Lack of adequate access to clean water and basic sanitation results in preventable disease and death. Furthermore, racial disparities are reflected in the unequal distribution of basic resources and opportunities, evidencing a framework of structural inequality. It is essential to guarantee universal and equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services, with special attention to the needs of women and people in vulnerable situations. This issue is defined with target 6.2 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The self-declared black and brown population has increased in Brazil, and racial inequalities persist, especially in the North and Northeast regions of the country, where access to health services is precarious. This reality is the result of a social structure supported by the capitalist system, which generates inequalities and prioritizes corporate interests to the detriment of social needs.