Os significados do uso de álcool entre os/as jovens quilombolas de Garanhuns/PE: uma perspectiva interseccional.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the meanings of alcohol use among quilombolas youth of the municipality of Garanhuns – PE, in line with issues of gender, social class and race/ethnicity. It is a qualitative study of feminist inspiration, performed with young people aged between 18 and 24 years old, who live in two quilombola communities of Garanhuns rural area. This study was performed in three stages: first, we conducted participant observation in communities; second, 20 semi-structured interviews with the youth; and third, the collected data were analyzed from the perspective of discourse analysis and intersectionality. Intersectional perspective enabled the perception of the existence of oppression, but mostly its developments from the effect of crossing the various social markers (gender, class, race/ethnicity) and the impact of these in the meanings on alcohol use. Their way of life and the manner they perceive the environment they live were observed: some are satisfied and others complain about the need of improvements for the communities. We note that there is not an explicit mobilization of them in the struggle for change, and several factors are present so that those do not engage themselves in the social transformation of their collectivity life conditions. The condition of young and quilombola is marked by prejudice, discrimination and oppression by their ethno-racial identity and dwelling in rural area. Juvenile situations in quilombola context are diverse; there are the young who works, studies, the one who doesn9t work or study; those who are mothers, fathers, married; those who drink alcoholic beverages in bars of the communities or at their homes, alone or accompanied by relatives and friends. The perceptions about the use differ when the consumer is male (naturalization) or female (defamation, mainly for consumption in bars). Motivations for alcohol use among the youth are diverse: fun, leisure, attempts forget the problems and deal with everyday problems and others. We also note that alcohol abuse is a cultural practice in the communities, since it has always been present in order to mediate the activities performed by quilombolas. However, we emphasize that there is a need for a careful look at this practice, for the abuse has shown negative consequences for the communities; the examples are the automobile accidents and violence against women in public and private places. We also see that the use of alcohol approximates rural and urban youth in quilombola communities, functioning as a mediation element between the contexts, but also stressing the unequal conditions of access and movement in these ones. The study indicates the need for reflections and actions on the unequal conditions that have marked the existence of the quilombolas and strategies that can be driven/developed for the political agentivity of this population, considering the effects of alcohol use in their projects of life.