Sentido de trabalho para mulheres em situação de vulnerabilidade social

Abstract

In the Social Assistance Policy there are a majority of services for women. They go to the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS) in greater numbers than men, they are often family administrators and breadwinners, with formal or informal jobs and with precarious characteristics. The general objective of this research was to investigate the meaning of work for women in situations of social vulnerability, included in the actions of the Public Social Assistance Policy in the Municipality of Curitiba, and the specific objectives were: to reflect on how social vulnerability influences the meaning of work; to investigate how the meaning of work contributes to these women’s search for autonomy; to identify the contributions of the actions proposed by the Social Assistance Policy related to work for the investigated public. This is a qualitative, descriptive research that involves field research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants aged between 21 and 65 years old, which were transcribed and subjected to content analysis from the perspective of historical-cultural psychology and the theory of subjectivity. As a result of the analysis process, it is concluded that the production of meaning in the work of these women is related to the historical, social, and cultural context, and the worldview constructed by this social group. Therefore, it is directly related to the attribution of value to work as well as the experience of social vulnerability. As the interviews developed, empirical categories of analysis emerged from which we sought to contemplate the proposed objectives, namely: experience of child labor, family caregiver work, sexual division of labor in the family, precarious work, illness, and lack of leisure. They respond to the question of the vulnerabilities that cross the meanings of work, since they directly influence the relationship with work in its search for survival and autonomy. The empirical category of work, beyond the financial aspect, shows how meaning contributes to the search for autonomy, as it elucidates positive aspects that go beyond the question of income generation, in addition to dreams and life projects expressed during the speeches. The actions of the Social Assistance Policy appear as a necessary support to overcome the vulnerabilities faced, but at the same time, depending on Social Assistance, even momentarily, is seen with a certain shame. Such results can contribute to the basis of the work and practice of psychologists who act in Social Assistance Policy, by highlighting the importance of identifying the processes of subjectivity oriented to the emancipation of the women served.