In Belo Horizonte, women constitute 53.35% of the population according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), but they are dramatically underrepresented in the names of streets, squares, and parks. A report from the special program 'Nome de Mulher' by TV Globo in Minas reveals that only approximately 2,000 of the 12,092 streets in the capital bear references to women, making up just 16.53% of total street names. Furthermore, out of the city's 130 viaducts, only six are named after women, highlighting a symbolic barrier regarding female recognition in public spaces.

The City Hall of Belo Horizonte does not maintain official classifications of streets named in honor of women. Given the lack of organized data, the program adopted a research methodology that combined public databases while excluding names of saints to accurately gauge the representation of women in place names within the city. This study underscores the significant disparity between the population demographic and the historical acknowledgment of women through public nomenclature.

The report seeks to shed light on those women who have managed to break these barriers by having their names associated with streets and other public locations in Belo Horizonte. It raises important questions about gender representation and the ways in which a city’s public naming conventions reflect societal values and historical narratives. By exploring these themes, the program contributes to a broader discourse on gender equity and recognition within urban environments, showcasing the need for more inclusive practices in public commemoration.