O ofício do invisível:

uma análise da presença de mulheres na obra História das livrarias cariocas de Ubiratan Machado até a década de 1970

Abstract

In this work we set out to map and analyse the presence of women in the main historical source ever compiled on Brazilian bookshops, the book by researcher Ubiratan Machado, História das livrarias cariocas (2012), up until the 1970s. In order to contextualise the study, we provide a brief overview of the scenario in the period, which was marked by the Married Women's Statute, which was in force until 1962. In the work analysed, we find an extensive exposition of the bookselling activity in Rio de Janeiro, based on a historical narrative with accounts of common cases and personalities who frequented the establishments. We found 65 women mentioned by name, including researchers, writers, wives, widows, owners, family members, shop assistants and those working in other trades. Finally, we used Ribeiro's (2020) typologies to analyse the systematic erasure of these agents. At the same time, we bring up questions from decolonial feminism that ratify the patriarchal modes that prevail in the sociability circuits of bookshops.