Mulheres em conflito com a lei : representações sociais, identidades de gênero e letramento

Abstract

This research study investigates the social representations of gender provided by inmates of a prison for females and the social identities in this specific context. The analysis deals with possible types of activities, such as writing, which may contribute towards the women's reinsertion in society. The theoretical perspectives are grounded on the Theory of Social Representations (MOSCOVICI, 1981; JODELET, 2001), on studies on Social Identity (HALL, 2000, 2007; SILVA, 2007; MOITA LOPES, 2002), Gender (LOURO, 1998) and Reading and Writing (KLEIMAN, 1995; SIGNORINI, 1995, TFOUNI, 1995). Since study focuses on the participants' emic interpretation is focused through an ethnographic interpretative and qualitative stance (MAISON, 1996; ERICKSON, 1989; TRIVIÑOS, 1987), the data that comprise the research corpus were collected through a triangular technique including half-structured interviews and field observation. The analyses show that participants in current research reveal, on the one hand, hegemonic social representations on the female gender, society and writing, and, on the other hand, they re-signify certain representations, such as those involving prison inmates, prison and time, due to their insertion within the prison culture. Negotiated identities, wished and/or denied, and even possible identity conflicts with regard to their day-to-day lives, low-class culture, un-structured families, low literacy level and the jail stigma can be identified through their representations. The analysis also shows that representations and identities re-built in the prison environment, especially those of prison and society, reinforce the construction of stigmas which may contribute towards relapses. The prisons should be conceived as spaces for inclusion, re-habilitation and social re-insertion by means of projects involving the learning of reading and writing, among other subjects. The data show that writing turned up to be a freedom factor for some of the women under analysis. Reading and writing activities involving the representations of females prison inmates and their experienced identity conflicts may be developed through a concept of literacy as a social practice and event. This research results also indicate the need to offer prison inmates programs that gave priority to the professional upgrading of female prison inmates so that, at a later date, they may apply for jobs for their social and dignified insertion within society.