Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
08/03/2013
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
Camila Maciel
Brazil Agency Reporter
São Paulo - "With the money, we have more freedom." More than being free to consume, the sentence of a beneficiary of Bolsa Família, a resident of Valley region Jequitinhonha (MG), reveals another kind of autonomy made possible by receiving a fixed monthly income: the freedom to make choices about own life.
Research sociologist Walquiria Leão Rego, a professor at the University of Campinas (Unicamp), shows that the program took a logic family planning for these women and triggered processes that favored their role as citizens. From 2006 to 2012, were interviewed about 150 women who receive funds from the cash transfer program.
"To say that with the money they have more freedom, sometimes it was the way she had to ensure 'I'm freer', evaluated Walquiria. Research Voices from Bolsa Familia will be published in a book this semester.
The interviews were conducted in the interior and on the coast of Alagoas, in the interior of Piauí, in the Vale of Jequitinhonha and on the outskirts of Sao Luis, capital of Maranhão. "I wanted to start with some of the most underserved by the Brazilian state," explained the researcher.
Actions taken by women, how to encourage to seek a divorce, think about how many children they want to have, buy a lipstick for the first time, open an account in the shop of the city are some of the situations observed in the study.
The card and password Bolsa Família are under their control. "It's different from giving food basket because you're saying that the person has to eat and how much. Though the income is small, [with the money] offers you a range of options, choices. This brought [to them] greater personal freedom, which we call moral effect. holes open up freedom in their lives, "he explained.
The teacher said the initial idea of the study was to understand whether the beneficiaries considered the purse a right or a favor. "But as we were delving in interviews and theoretical research, we see that the fact that they receive a regular cash income caused a very special effect, own the social function of money," he said. According Walquiria, one of these functions is "to decide with him what you want to do."
The ability to think ahead changed the perspective of these women's lives. "You are completely subjected to misery, so he has no opportunity to determine anything in his life. You leave behind food, find yourself eating, do not eat if they do not find," explained lead researcher, considering the condition of previous recipients .
Among the moral effects found by the author of the work is the manifestation of the desire to do the tubal ligation surgery. "[This] is something that is already on the horizon them. This idea that they want to fill with children to raise scholarship is pure prejudice. Like any woman in the world, they are afraid of pregnancy, would like to have fewer children," said . The working conditions of the husbands, to get some service, spend months away from home also contribute to the desire to avoid pregnancy. "It is the responsibility of them manage the entire life of the children," he said.
The researcher also identified cases in which women are encouraged to seek divorce from a violent husband. "These matters are still surrounded by taboos. They have great difficulty talking about it. Sometimes, when I got talking to the same woman for the third time, there was a larger opening to talk about it," he said.
Despite getting reports that make clear emancipatory situations experienced by women, the professor argued that there are cultural factors that strongly influence this context, such as religion and family. "There is one case or another it happened, but it is a very difficult subject to talk with them. These regions, the family has great weight. Typically, they live near the mother or parents."
Although some women have reported purchases of cosmetics as a shampoo or a lipstick, with funds from the benefit, the researcher noted that this question is difficult to be assumed. "The money's Bolsa Família is spent primarily with food for the children. Such a morality is much stronger than they have. Much that when you inquire about body care, they are too scared to ask."
According Walquiria to name who purchased an item of beauty, woman, first, listing the expenditures children. "She thinks it's as if confessing a mistake. Need to explain that bought school supplies, food, but left a little and she could piecemeal twice. They will learn to manage the scarcity of money, and some told me: 'I I bought shampoo, I'm buying lipstick, nail polish. "So, care to herself, her body is still in second, third place."
Another function of the money in these cases was the establishment of trust relationships. "It is very common now that they tell can go to shop and say, 'Look, my money has not arrived yet, but here's my card, I will take leave and when [the money], I come here and paid.' Money brought a new experience of reliability for these women, "he explained.
According Walquiria, even before they go into these stores, because the owner knew he could not buy anything. "You will agree that these places women be trusted is a gain autonomy and freedom too big. And self-esteem."
Edition: Tereza Barbosa and Jose Romildo
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.