A formação do conceito de gênero dos substantivos entre alunos do ensino fundamental : um processo de tomada de consciência

Abstract

Gender category is characterized by the division of nouns in classes. Although in the Portuguese language names are grouped within the masculine and feminine dichotomy, a trend exists in which gender is thought of as the difference between he masculine and the feminine. This constitutes a weak and partial concept which may result in confusion. With this idea in mind and emphasizing the importance of school intervention in the process of conscience-raising that favors the concept's adequate understanding, current research investigates the understanding of the concept of the grammatical gender by junior school children. The gender category, conceptual learning and conscience-raising and practical assignments were undertaken through a qualitative and quantitative approach to investigate the students' gender concept. When the hypothesis of change in concepts on the grammatical gender expressed in conscience-raising was tested, a truly significant change in concept during the school and inter-grade process has not been reported. It is deemed necessary that the teaching of Portuguese, especially its grammar, triggers reflection and understanding which theoretically make possible conscience-raising within the differentiation of concepts of the grammatical and biological gender analyzed in current research.