Entre linhas e agulhas: a costura da trajetória de carreira de Maria Rita

Abstract

The present teaching case presents the trajectory of Maria Rita, a seamstress, mother, divorced woman, and entrepreneur, who built her career while facing personal and social challenges as well as constant professional reinventions. The narrative shows how motherhood, domestic violence, structural limitations, and the search for autonomy shaped her choices throughout life. From this story, it becomes possible to analyze women’s careers through the lens of the Kaleidoscope Career Model, which understands professional development as a dynamic and changing process guided by the parameters of authenticity, balance, and challenge. In addition, the case addresses themes such as gender inequality, the sexual division of labor, structural machismo, and the role of support networks in strengthening female entrepreneurship. By bringing these elements together, the narrative encourages reflections on how women organize their priorities between personal and professional life, adapting to family demands, cultural constraints, and emerging opportunities. Therefore, it highlights how women’s career trajectories are marked by resilience, creativity, and the construction of unique professional paths.