Memory and safe spaces for speech: what do domestic workers tell about themselves?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22478/ufpb.1887-8214.2024v38n1.71229Keywords:
Life narratives; Safe spaces for speech; Housework; Maranhão.Abstract
In this article, we present some life narratives (Bertaux, 2010) of domestic workers from Maranhão. The reports are part of an ongoing research that seeks to create conditions for active listening (Lévinas, 2006) with a group of women mediated by Sindicato de Trabalhadores e Trabalhadoras Domésticas do Maranhão. Based on Patrícia Collins’ (2019) idea of safe spaces for speech and also in the search for memory as a sign of struggle (Portelli, 2000), we highlight some aspects found that give us clues to understand how these women, when talking about themselves, they (re)elaborate, in language, forms of oppression and violations of rights historically experienced by them. We conclude that talking about oneself in safe spaces generates trust and is part of a process of resistance in women who have historically been silenced and today can “raise ther voice”, even though a large part of sexist and patriarchal society still has a lot of difficulty to listen to them.