Projeto de Vida de Jovens Mulheres Negras Universitárias

Abstract

This Master's Thesis has as its main objective to know the life projects of 10 (ten) young black women, university and socioeconomically impoverished, seeking to understand if, and how, the experience of racism can influence them. Comparative studies that analyze social inequalities by color or race in Brazil reveal that black women occupy the lowest positions on the scales of the labor market, income distribution, illiteracy rate, housing conditions and political representation, when compared to men whites and blacks, or when compared to white women. There is a complexity involved in the vulnerabilities to which black women are exposed, as gender, race and class inequalities intersect and enhance the structural differences that demarcate spaces and places in society. The instruments used were the Socioeconomic Questionnaire and the Interview with a semistructured script. As a theoretical framework, Socio-Historical Psychology and studies on prejudice and racism existing in the field of Social Psychology were used. The results found in this exploratory study reveal that, with regard to future prospects, the participants plan to complete their graduation, continue their studies, work, obtain financial independence and act in public policies, at the same time that they are concerned about the current political scenario. Staying at the university, uncertainties about the future, financial difficulties, family conflicts, opportunities and acting in social movements appear as important factors in their life projects. The family support of the female figures of the mother and grandmother contributes so that their life projects can have an opportunity to be built. Based on the participants' reports, it was possible to affirm that racism influences the construction of their life projects, as the long process of slavery experienced in Brazil and its consequences resulted in a society in which structural racism, prejudice, stereotypes that they involve being a black woman, social differences, lack of opportunities and denial of access to basic rights exert a strong influence on the construction of their life projects. These results allow us to interpret and discuss how racism appears in the lives of these young people, limiting the construction of their life projects and their existence.