Machismo and Sexism in the School Environment: Perceptions of Physical Education Teaching Interns

Abstract

This article analyzes the perceptions of Physical Education undergraduate teaching interns regarding manifestations of machismo and sexism in the school environment. Grounded in historical-dialectical materialism, the study understands these phenomena as expressions of social relations structured within the capitalist mode of production and the sexual division of labor. This is an empirical, qualitative study conducted with final-year students from a public university in Northern Minas Gerais, through a questionnaire administered via Google Forms. The responses were organized into three categories: definitions of machismo and sexism; internship experiences; and impacts on professional practice. The results indicate conceptual weaknesses in the understanding of the terms, the naturalization of sexist practices, and the perception that such forms of violence interfere with the students’ confidence, permanence, and professional prospects. The study concludes that further research is needed to analyze these forms of violence in their historical and material totality.