to this day Mothers, grandmothers, aunts and sisters play fundamental roles in the extended family unit, sharing the parenting amongst them.

The importance and intensity of family presence can be seen all across carioca society - as evidenced in widespread devotion to commemorations such as Mother's Day and birthdays, celebrated with great emotion in favelas and across carioca culture in general.

Indeed, the carioca attitude towards extended family is exemplary, and  when looking to engage meaningfully and directly with carioca residents,  keeping this extended-family structure in mind is important.

women have traditionally engaged in occupations that allowed them to spend time with the children, such as informal commerce in the form of small shops and food outlets.