O sujeito feminino e a política de assistência social: uma análise da condição da mulher beneficiária do Programa Bolsa Família – estudo de caso no Município de Lauro de Freitas - Bahia

Abstract

This research aims to study the condition of the Bolsa Família Program (BFP) beneficiary women and deals with gender relations embedded in this conditional cash transfer program. The main objective is to analyze the social and material conditions of existence of the program beneficiary women, and the possibility it may promotes autonomy and empowerment to women who act as participating subjects. It is to understand empowerment as a reflective and/or inflecting action that transforms the subject into "active agent" who circulates as an actor/actress in political, social, economic and cultural dimensions. The thesis investigates the relationship between this minimum income program and a gender perspective with a focus on social inequalities. The analytical approach highlights the debate about policies with a gender perspective, the program of conditional cash transfer (PBF) and the role assigned to women in this context. The sexual division of labor and women's social times are discussed. A qualitative nature research has as starting point through the case study on experiences of PBF beneficiary women at Lauro de Freitas, a municipality in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador. The technique of bibliographic and empirical research with testimonies collected in the interviews and observations is used. The survey sample consists of 20 women beneficiaries of the program and residents of Conjunto Residencial D. Lindu. Women's perceptions about the program, with respect to autonomy, sexual division of labor, women's empowerment and social times are problematized. Studies reveal that in the Bolsa Família Program women's empowerment involves the autonomy they have from the benefit of management, since such autonomy is constrained by ethical responsibilities assumed with the kids and family, but falls short as a structural mechanism for withdrawal of women from poverty and an empowerment that allows them to model themselves as female subjects.