As relações de gênero e a divisão sexual do trabalho nas associações de catadores(as) da cidade de Ponta Grossa-PR

Abstract

The present study aims to understand the gender relations and the configurations of the sexual division of labor in the reality of Ponta Grossa - PR recyclable materials collector’s associations. This discussion becomes necessary, since, based on previous empirical researches and the contact with the recycling reality in Ponta Grossa prior to the masters, it was observed that the number of women within the collector’s associations in this city was much higher than the number of men, contrary to national data, according to which the number of men who collect is higher than that of women. However, the expressive number of women in the associations instigated us to problematize the meanings of what it is to be a woman and a man and how the sexual division of labor was presented in this specific space and context. It is an interdisciplinary research of a qualitative nature, which constitutes a field research. For this, initially, a bibliographical and documental research was carried out and in a second moment the field research was carried out through observations and focal group. The research subjects for the focal group were the three oldest women of each association, totaling twelve women. To promote the analysis of the collected data, content analysis was used. The initial chapter aims to bring a discussion about social class, work, gender and sexual division of labor, thus linking one concept with the other. The second chapter offers reflections on the concept of garbage and the process of harvesting in Brazilian society. Later, the debate about the collector’s situation in Brazil is highlighted, followed by the approach of the recyclable materials collector’s situation in the context of the city of Ponta Grossa-PR. In the third chapter the research results showed that the majority of women never participated in the formal labor market, having their trajectories marked by recycling as a means of survival and maintenance of the family, in exhaustive days to support the family. It was noticed that the organization of recyclable materials collector’s in associations facilitated daily life, but their dynamics of functioning and management, even with all the positive aspects of existence, has reinforced inequalities in social relations of gender and impacting the sexual division of labor, where there are already numerous others inequalities. It was also identified that there are weaknesses in public policies, especially for women collectors who, when need to be assisted, end up having to rely on solidarity and agreements among members, especially in case of illness, pregnancy, or commitment to the family. It was also noticeable from the results that these women have double / triple working hours. There was indignation regards the devaluation and the invisibility of their work, but at the same time they were accustomed to such arduous journeys of work, both in recycling as in domestic work. Finally, the research demonstrates the need for actions that contribute to overcome gender inequalities, expanding citizenship and democracy, so as to contribute to the construction of greater equality, especially of those collectors who already live in extremely vulnerable conditions, embedded in several social inequalities.