LGBTTrabalhadores : trajetórias de vida e representações sociais sobre trabalho

Abstract

By conceiving sex, gender and sexuality based on binary, natural and fixed systems and by organizing the social practices from the premise that heterosexuality is the only and correct way to live the sexuality, it is said that our society is, hegemonically, heteronormative. Thus, all other forms of configuration and experience of gender identities and sexualities that permeate the binary ends (male/female, heterosexual/homosexual) are marginalized. So, it’s perceived the psychosocial exclusion of LGBT people (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) in different spheres of social life, also significantly impacting their working possibilities and relationships. This scenario, in Brazil, has been increasing since the 1990s, when profound changes into the world of work has been hampering even more the access and the permanence to it of people that, visibly, do not fit the standard of the formal labor market. This dissertation aims to analyze the social representations of a group of people who look out of place of the heteronormative standards, whether by sexual orientation or gender identity, about their relationships with work. The informations were obtained by means of a bibliographical and documentary survey, and also by the application of semistructured interviews and analyzed from the construction of thematic categories, such as: family, school and work. The material obtained points to experiences of prejudice in the family, school and professional environments that impact on the way the subjects perceive themselves and the others and condition the way they socially relate. Mainly, school and work acquire a sense of space for living constraints, suffering and struggle against prejudice, but also of overcoming, accomplishing, social utility and exercise of citizenship. The respondents have difficulties in the formal labor market, or as self-employed and micro-entrepreneurs, but they are not exempt from prejudices, constraints and the feeling that they must be model workers to guarantee their work, even if, not exceptionally, they have to experiment situations that are true proofs of resistance for their permanence in the organizations. It is hoped that the reflection on the life histories of the interviewees can support and stimulate policies and practices of work management that are inclusive and do not discriminate LGBT workers.