Vivências da morte: uma reflexão em torno das representações e práticas entre trabalhadores funerários na Cidade de Maputo

Abstract

The Study focuses on a group of male funeral workers, and explores emotions, feelings, speeches, experiences, behaviors and ways in which the study subjects incorporate and they experience the phenomenon of death and its potential threats on a daily basis, and mechanisms activated by these actors to face these threats. The study is exploratory in nature and was developed through a literature review and fieldwork in funeral homes, Morgue do Maputo Central Hospital and Lhanguene Cemetery, in Maputo City. The topic of death is discussed in the light of several perspectives, and for the sake of context, we have brought the three (3), considered main, the biological or organicist, the Spiritualist and the Socio-anthropological. The first one discusses biophysical aspects of death, the second one is interested in metaphysical aspects and the third and last one deals with cultural and symbolic aspects of death. However, this study is based on the assumptions of the latter perspective as it is the most adequate to understand the practices and representations of groups in their relations with death and / or the dead. A body of literature (hitherto explored) suggests that contact with the dead transmits dangerous, strong and contagious pollution, whose defensive mechanism is ritual purification or ritual cleansing. The study shows that there are dangers identified, recognized and feared by the actors studied here, in the course of their funerary activities. However, the data discussed here show that individuals have other defensive mechanisms for the incorporation, limitation and management of these dangers, such as the institutionalization of habit and courage, the consumption of alcohol and milk, the use of masks, aprons and gloves for touching the corpse, among which the defensive ideologies of the professionals predominate and those instituted by the discourse of biomedicine. (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)