"Mãe, cadê aquela roupa?" : uma perspectiva sobre a decisão do descarte de roupas infantis

Abstract

Disposal is a process that involves the separation between the consumer and their possessions, and therefore it abdicates its benefits and the ownership of this object. This qualitative research aimed to investigate how the disposal of children's clothing happens. For that were accomplished two focus groups with children and interviews with 17 mothers with children between 10 and 12 years old in Londrina city (PR). The study identified that the disposal is a result of a combination of decisions with different intensities ranging from family to family. However, the roles of adults and children as "people who discard" are different and complementary in that decision. The influence of children in the discard decision is given: when they detach clothing to discard because it is inadequate or they do not like this or when they influence the "no disposal" clothing due a preference. In addition the research concludes that the donation is the most used option for disposal which is carried out due to hedonic, utilitarian, social and environmental issues. The study identified the disposal is started when: a child does not like clothing or clothing does not fit, by condition, in changing climatic season (winter and summer) and also sporadically when an arrangement clothes is required. And for the mothers the gain disposal is related to the desire to help people and make connections through the reuse of your children's clothing.