DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS: NARRATIVES OF WOMEN WASTE PICKERS

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyze the interface between domestic violence and psychological distress, from the perspective of women who waste recyclable materials. This is a qualitative study, with a social constructionist approach, conducted with twenty women waste pickers, living in the Federal District, Brazil. The semi-structured interview was used as a data collection instrument and the Association of Ideas maps for analysis of the contents of the speeches. The contents extracted from the collected narratives are divided into three thematic categories: violence producing psychic suffering, resources to cope with violence, and work and psychic suffering among women who work with solid waste. At work, we noticed personal memories of the suffering experienced and experienced in the present time in the workspace. In reading women, there are few resources to help, even with the knowledge of the legal resource. However, there were indications of self-knowledge of the right to life, respect and appreciation of being a woman. It is concluded that resistance strategies with psychosocial, legal and protective care for women are necessary, to proactively support the reduction of their vulnerabilities and facilitate the expansion of their capacities to face the causes of violence, and to produce care, support and prevention networks, which include their children.