Crianças vulneráveis em Moçambique: um olhar sobre o papel do estigma na permanência de crianças que vivem nas ruas da cidade de Maputo.

Abstract

Based on study of street children, this monograph analyses the children living on the street as a phenomenon linked to the stigma they face. The study was conducted in Maputo, “Ponto final”, where we find the street children. The place is also busy by car and people. The study was based on Goffman's Stigma theory (1988), part of the theory of Symbolic Interaccionism developed by the Chicago School in the United States of America around the late 20th century. Data was collected through qualitative methodology, based on ethnographic procedure, hypothetical- deductive approach, semi-structured interviews and observation in the field. A sample of 15 street children on the basis convenient sample was selected. The argument of this study is that stigma which street children are subject means that they are primarily driven from home and secondly it keeps them living on the streets. Thus the stigma is not only in the life of street children, but also influences the continuity of this phenomenon. It is therefore important factor in explaining the vitality of street children. Therefore, street children within the family and within the neighborhood are rejected, suspicious, and the knowledge they have of the danger that street children represent a function of how they design, make street children have unlikely to manage their stigma, and the difficult social interaction that occurs in these contexts has affected the escape of street children to places where they can reduce the application of such stigma, thus avoiding being constantly subject to situations of inferiority. However, the remain of children in the street is explained by the possibility of finding more space and strategies to conceal their stigma as well as the support, affection, affection, brotherhood that are coming from certain social groups who are willing to maintain contact with children street unconditionally, as groups of their peers and other members of society by reason roads are willing to live with them.