‘It can be dangerous for the uterus’: hegemonic masculinity and cooperative recycling in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

This study examines performative social relations, specifically the role of hegemonic masculinity in shaping gendered space. First, by drawing on personal experiences and qualitative data from my research in São Paulo, Brazil, I examine the most salient aspects of hegemonic masculinity in the lives of female recyclers. Second, I suggest that masculine domination is not simply something established by men which aims to oppress women, but hegemonic masculinities can be (re)produced by women. I affirm this notion by exploring the ways in which hegemonic masculinity and common perceptions of social roles, abilities, and inabilities are discursively (re)produced by female recyclers. In particular, I argue that exploring the subordinate position of women is a productive means to gain a deeper understanding of hegemonic masculinity, while also, the concept of hegemonic masculinity is an effective tool for understanding the subordinate role of women. My experiences with the recyclers provide a context through which the fluid, complex, and dynamic nature of hegemonic masculinity can be further revealed.

Este estudio analiza las relaciones sociales performativas, específicamente el rol de la masculinidad hegemónica sobre el modo en que se da forma al espacio generizado. Primero, basándome en experiencias personales y datos cualitativos de mi investigación en San Pablo, Brasil, analizo los aspectos más salientes de la masculinidad hegemónica en las vidas de las mujeres recicladoras. En segundo lugar, sugiero que la dominación masculina no es simplemente algo establecido por los hombres que apunta a oprimir a las mujeres, sino que las masculinidades hegemónicas pueden ser (re)producidas por las mujeres. Afirmo esta noción explorando las formas en las que la masculinidad hegemónica y las percepciones comunes de los roles, capacidades e incapacidades sociales son (re)producidas discursivamente por las mujeres recicladoras. En particular, sostengo que la exploración de la posición subordinada de las mujeres es un modo adecuado para obtener una mejor comprensión de la masculinidad hegemónica, y también, que el concepto de masculinidad hegemónica es una herramienta efectiva para entender el rol subordinado de las mujeres. Mis experiencias con las recicladoras brindan un contexto a través del cual la naturaleza fluida, compleja y dinámica de la masculinidad hegemónica puede ser revelada.

本研究检视展演性的社会关系，特别是霸权男性气概之于形构性别化空间的角色。我首先将运用我在巴西圣保罗进行研究的个人经验与质性材料，检视在女性回收者的生活中最为显著的霸权男性气概面向。再者，我主张男性气概支配并非纯粹由男性创造来压迫女性；霸权男性气概也可以由女性（再）生产。我透过探索女性资源回收者如何论述性地（再）生产霸权男性气概以及对社会角色、能力与无能的普遍认知，进一步确认此一见解。我特别主张，探索女性的从属位置是更为深刻理解霸权男性气概的有效方式；霸权男性气概的概念则同时是了解女性从属角色的有效工具。我与资源回收者的经验，提供了进一步揭露流动、复杂且动态的霸权男性气概之脉络。

Keywords:

• hegemonic masculinity
• masculine domination
• patriarchy
• cooperative recycling
• Brazil

Keywords:

• masculinidad hegemónica
• dominación masculina
• patriarcado
• reciclado cooperativo
• Brasil

Keywords:

• 霸权男性气概; 男性宰制; 父权; 合作式资源回收; 巴西

Acknowledgements

This study would not have been possible without the recyclers' willingness to share ideas and experiences. I am deeply thankful to Jutta Gutberlet and Pamela Moss for all their involvement in various capacities through the various stages of this project. I am also very thankful for the reading and careful thought given by Reuben Rose-Redwood, Maggie Low, Matea Kulic, Carolyn Labun, and Kathleen Taylor. Finally, I thank the anonymous referees for their critical comments that helped to improve the article.

Notes

1. Informal waste management refers to efforts outside government-regulated waste management frameworks to collect reusable and recyclable material from the streets, dumpsites, or landfills, and to reincorporate these goods into the economy (Moreno-Sanchez and Moldanado 2006). Since the recycling cooperatives involved with this study are both organized and partially located in the informal sector, this study refers to the work done by recycling cooperatives as organized informal waste management.

2. Among the 58 cooperative members surveyed in the study, the average monthly wage of the workers was 469.34 reais per month, slightly higher than the 2009 national minimum wage of 465 reais per month. During the time of the data collection (1 December 2009), one Canadian dollar was equal to 1.655 Brazilian reais, and one American dollar was equal to 1.74 Brazilian reais.