The article highlights numerous examples of what it considers questionable thesis and dissertation topics from Brazilian Federal Universities, focusing on themes of sexuality, gender, and race. These include titles such as “A Zuadinha é tá, tá, tá: representação sobre a sexualidade e o corpo feminino negro” and “Fazer banheirão: as dinâmicas das interações homoeróticas nos sanitários públicos da estação da Lapa e adjacências.”
Experts interviewed criticize this focus on identity politics, arguing that it represents a shift from traditional Marxist class struggle to new ideological battlefronts, and that these theses often lack rigorous methodology, serving more as opinion pieces than scientific research. The authors are quoted as saying this approach “washes feelings” and sanctions them under the guise of science.
Concerns are raised about the lack of scientific methodology in these studies and their potential to demoralize universities as centers of knowledge production. One expert even refers to “woke” ideology as a sect.
The article contrasts the focus on these controversial academic topics with the poor state of basic education in Brazil. It cites statistics from the TIMSS ranking showing Brazil's low performance in mathematics among 9-year-olds, and data indicating a significant portion of the population is functionally illiterate. The conclusion emphasizes the need to prioritize addressing fundamental educational issues before delving into highly specialized and potentially ideological research topics.