Abstract
In this paper, my purpose is to discuss the inner relation between language and society, based on a series of reports on sexual exploitation of children in Brasília, published in Correio Braziliense, and on interviews with an educator of the National Street Children's Movement (‘Movimento Nacional de Meninos e Meninas de Rua’ – MNMMR/DF). I will discuss the social effects of the texts published in the newspaper, in terms of its implication for the MNMMR/DF and for the formulation of public policies for children living on the street.
Notes
Between 2005 and 2008, I have carried out an extensive ethnographic research regarding representation and identification in the context of the National Street Children's Movement in the Federal District, Brazil. The research sought to establish a dialogue between Ethnography, CDA and CR, and its aim was the Movement's crisis – my interest was understanding the causal relations that may exist between the crisis and discursive elements in social practice such as modes of representation and identity constructs. The ethnographic experience in this project favored my recognizing of the relevance of this Movement and also guaranteed my access to the data I discuss here. I am grateful to the young protagonist (it is an inner concept in the Movement) here called Maria for her disposition and confidence.
Translated from Portuguese.
Maria is a young protagonist of the National Street Children's Movement and was one of the participants in my research ‘Análise de Discurso Crítica e Etnografia: o Movimento Nacional de Meninos e Meninas de Rua, sua crise e o protagonismo juvenil’ (‘Critical discourse analysis and ethnography: the National Street Children's Movement, its crisis and youth protagonism’; Resende, Citation2008). Today she is an educator for the ‘GirAção’ Project.