Sports
Women's Unity, the Golden Cage, and Endurance Sports
Aline Carvalho and Bruna Mahn discuss autonomy, the care trap, and how cycling can truly welcome women.
Aline Carvalho explores the power of female unity against historical stereotypes and analyzes the golden cage trap. Alongside Bruna Mahn, the discussion covers the challenges women face in endurance sports and the need for a cycling market that values female athletes on a technical level.
Female unity is highlighted by Aline Carvalho as a true driver of social change. Debunking the ingrained myth of female rivalry—which studies disprove by showing no greater competition among women than among men—she emphasizes that authentic empowerment stems from self-knowledge and dismantling preconceived notions about women's roles in society and sport.
PUBLICIDADE (GAM) — 1250x250
The golden cage trap and gender expectations
One of the central themes of the discussion is the concept of the golden cage. Historically tied to the care economy, women are often steered into behind-the-scenes tasks and detail-oriented coordination across corporate settings, athletic training groups, and social circles. While fulfilling these expectations earns praise and recognition, it often traps women in an overburdened routine they did not necessarily choose.
This dynamic also extends to corporate rhetoric that attempts to standardize a singular female leadership style. For Carvalho, there is no single leadership style tied to gender; every individual leads based on their own background and context. Rather than prescribing fixed traits, true leadership involves exercising genuine curiosity to understand each person's unique needs and circumstances.
Routines, endurance, and invisible barriers
Translating this reality to endurance sports, Bruna Mahn highlights the heavy toll of daily routines. Disciplines like triathlon and road cycling demand countless hours away from home each week, alongside safety concerns when training alone. Compounded by the disproportionate burden of domestic labor and motherhood, these demands make committing to the sport far more complex for women.
A concrete example shared during the conversation is professional triathlete Luísa Paz. A mother of three, Paz notes that while traveling for races is logistically demanding, it is often her only opportunity to fully rest before an event, contrasting sharply with the daily strain of juggling workouts and family obligations at home. Collectives like Juntas Pela Bike have emerged precisely to provide mutual support and encourage self-discovery through sports.
Far beyond pink: what women want from the cycling industry
As female participation in endurance sports continues to surge, the commercial market must evolve how it connects with this audience. Carvalho points out that specialized shops must see women first and foremost as cyclists and athletes, providing high-level technical support, hiring female mechanics, and respecting their sporting knowledge.
Creating a genuinely welcoming environment is not about painting shops pink or restricting discussions to basic topics like menstrual cycles. Female cyclists are deeply interested in heavy bike maintenance, elevation profiles, cutting-edge equipment, race coverage, and climbing the world's most iconic mountain passes.
PUBLICIDADE (GAM) — 1250x250
