Our Bodies, Ourselves Translated into Brazilian Portuguese: A Study of the Impacts on the Translators

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper aims to present the collaborative and volunteer translation project of the book Our Bodies, Ourselves into Brazilian Portuguese and to analyse the translators´ ontological narratives (Baker, 2006) about their experience. Through a partnership with two Brazilian universities and an NGO, the project establishes a dialogue with the feminist movement led by The Boston Women's Health Book Collective as well as with recent research on feminist translation theories and inclusive language. The analysis of authentic narratives provided by the students involved in the project allowed for the identification of recurring trends in the emotions they experienced while translating texts dealing with abortion and sexuality, among other sensitive topics. The perceived impact on the translators' lives is discussed with the support of theoretical frameworks addressing the performativity and subjectivity (Rajagopalan 2004; Robinson 2003; Pinto 2002) and the role of translators' emotions (Barrett 2017; Rojo López 2017; Hubscher- Davidson 2018). After almost three years of work, it is possible to conclude that the project went far beyond the translation process and represented a learning experience about the participants themselves, their bodies and health. For the students involved the translation was a political act that will, hopefully, make a difference in women's lives.