Interrogate masculinity in Belém (PA, Brazil)

Abstract

 The article presents a discussion on masculinity by describing indicators of the modern and post-modern masculinity matrices (based on literature review), and also through the analysis of a qualitative research that made use of the computer and some self-perceptions of men from Pará State (Brazil). For data collection, it was created a website for online research, dissemination, hosting and information collection in the website of the Universidade Federal do Pará. In this website it was included a term of consent for all participants. The issues discussed were: what defines masculinity; role models, what they liked and did not like to learn from these role models and the importance of penis for men’s virility. Nineteen informants, from different schooling levels, participated of this research. The organization and analysis of data was performed using themes. The conclusions noted that there was an emphasis on the modern matrix of masculinity subjective processes, it was also noticed that the informants strongly believe in the assumption that there is a “nature” typical for men and another one for women. In this “nature”, the male figure is the first idea that is transmitted by the learning models, so the biology and culture build the structure of behaviors, attitudes and social roles that are played and endlessly reconstructed. The renewal of male subjective processes and the reduction of private violence transmission require the integrated action of family and school, institutions that participate in shaping the subject, socialization, education and genesis of values.

Key words: matrices, masculinities, research.