Gênero e sexualidade em Moçambique

uma análise contextual entre tradições, cultura e perspectivas contemporâneas

Abstract

This article discusses the dynamics of gender and sexuality in Mozambique, emphasizing how historical memories, cultural beliefs, and recent social transformations intersect in the construction of power relations and social identities. The study seeks to understand how traditional practices such as lobolo, levirate, and the sexual division of labor continue to shape social organization and gender roles in contemporary Mozambican society. Furthermore, it examines the historical trajectory of the LGBT movement in the country, from the colonial period, marked by repression and silencing, to the emergence and strengthening of LAMBDA as an important organization advocating for sexual diversity rights. The research adopts a qualitative and interdisciplinary approach, combining contributions from sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies through bibliographic review, institutional analysis, and engagement with local voices and experiences. The findings reveal that, although legal reforms have promoted advances in equality and human rights recognition, significant cultural, symbolic, and social barriers still hinder full inclusion. The study concludes that social transformation requires not only legislative changes but also continuous cultural work capable of critically engaging with traditions without producing exclusion or marginalization.

Keywords: gender; sexuality; Mozambique; LGBT movement; cultural traditions.