“Seja homem de verdade!”: (Re)constituindo masculinidades numa escola de cidade pequena e do interior

Abstract

The present work is the result of a research carried out in a school in a small city and in the interior of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Through observations, from different moments of everyday school life, I tried to understand how in the games of the relations of know- power, masculinities were constituted in this context. Held during approximately four months, I was able to observe different moments and interactions between students, teachers and other employees. Thus, the purpose of this text is to discuss and problematize the construction of masculinities in this context assuming Post-Structuralist theoretical- methodological perspective and the Foucaultian Studies. During the research I noticed that there is no homogeneity in the form of “being a man” and that there are discursive / non-discursive processes involved in the “construction” of these subjects. I also bring as problematization commonly naturalized actions such as “teasing”, “jokes”, “ways of getting along with” in our society. Since this work argues that we go through different construction processes, there is also the possibility of (re)construction. Understanding, thus, that we are changing subjects and with different forms of resistance to disciplinary processes. As a possibility of (re)constructions I bring Michel Foucault's perspective on friendship and the possibilities that open up to rethink what is posed as “the natural”, “the order of things”. Therefore, I assume as investment and defense the understanding that language (re)produces subjects, meanings, knowledge and relationships. It is necessary to say that there is the possibility of resisting and (re)constructing new possibilities, knowledge, subjects and relations.