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Women living in rural areas are at higher risk of pesticide exposure, especially when involved in agricultural tasks. Objective: To discuss women’s exposure to pesticides among a cohort of Brazilian farmers. Methods: A cross-sectional study investigated pesticide exposure and health effects of family farmers from Rio de Janeiro State, providing relevant data to discuss women’s potential exposure. Results: The assessed female farmers (n=37) had a mean age of 45y, and 57% were at bearing age (18-45y), which is an important risk for reproductive, gestational, and endocrine problems. They were mother of 21 children aged <10y and 22 from 11-18y, who are often taken to planting areas from very early ages. Female farmers were exposed to mixtures of multiple pesticides (31 classes including organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids) for 23y on average, and none of them had ever received occupational training. While men were mostly involved in pesticide manipulation and spraying, women daily performed other tasks without recommended personal protection. Most women lived close to cultivation sites with pesticide use (85% <1km), reported residential exposure (95%), storage of chemicals at home or nearby, and cleaning work-contaminated clothes and equipment, and that are additional sources of exposure for them. As a consequence, a high prevalence of poisoning (e.g. headache, tingling, cramps, dyspnea and cough) and mental health (e.g. depression and anxiety) symptoms were reported. Conclusion: The female farmers investigated are at higher risk of being exposed to pesticides throughout multiple pathways, which may have harmful impacts on their health and offspring. Technical support must be improved to smallholder family farmers in Brazil and risk mitigation strategies adopted to minimize women’s exposure to pesticides in order to protect their health and families.