Serviço social e a livre orientação sexual e de identidade de gênero: análise crítica a partir das dimensões constitutivas da profissão

Abstract

The present study aims to analyze how issues regarding free sexual orientation and gender identity have been expressed in the dimensions constituting Social Work. We assume the use of the term free sexual orientation and gender identity, but the debate is also recognized in the field of "sexual diversity and gender identity" and "LGBTQ+ issues". The development of the profession in Brazil is permeated by disputes, especially since its critical turn away from traditionalism and conservatism. Therefore, it is essential to analyze how issues of free sexual orientation and gender are expressed in the theoretical-methodological, ethical-political, and technicaloperational dimensions of Social Work, considering the social direction and the ethical-political project expressed by the profession as a whole. To achieve this objective, we conducted an exploratory documentary and bibliographic research in the Proceedings of the 15th, 16th, and 17th editions of CBAS, respectively, and in the 16th and 17th editions of ENPESS, to analyze how they have been expressed in the theoretical-methodological and technical-operational fields. We built a database of articles composed of 102 articles - 64 from CBAS and 38 from ENPESS, specifically addressing the theme of free sexual orientation and gender identity. We also used documents, news, and other publications produced by CFESS between 2006 and 2022 as a source of exploration to analyze the expressions of the theme in the ethical-political field. In the analysis, we identified two theoretically more expressive trends in the production of the category: one (1) that aligns more expressively with Marx's critical social theory, and the second (2), more diverse, absorbing theoretical conceptualizations from another field and expressing reformist and post-modern tendencies. In total, 20 articles were identified in trend 1 and 82 identified in trend 2. As a result, it is observed that the field of free sexual orientation and gender identity has received strong reformist influence in contrast to historical and dialectical materialism, reiterated in the profession. When analyzing the ethicalpolitical expressions, we identified the continuous efforts of the CFESS-CRESS group, grounded in Marx's critical social theory, as a space for confronting this growing trend in the professional sphere.