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Rosana Pinheiro-Machado Interviewed About Youth Gatherings in Brazilian Shopping Malls

Rosana Pinheiro Machado, departmental lecturer in the anthropology of development at ODID, has been interviewed by Deutsche Welle and the Economist about rolezinhos - spontaneous "flash mob"-style youth gatherings in shopping malls in Brazil that began to emerge last year.

A recent gathering gained noteriety after it was dispersed by police with rubber bullets and tear gas.

According to the Deutsche Welle article, the gatherings, which are often attended by Brazilians from the favelas, or slums, are in part an attempt by poorer teenagers to assert their right to enter private shopping malls unhindered.

"The participants are refusing to accept being rejected," Rosana told Deutsche Welle. "Many speak of their difficulties to always be viewed as a favela dweller."

Read the Deutsche Welle article.

Read the Economist article.