As várias línguas do poder: uma análise de experiências individuais e colectivas sobre quando e quantos filhos ter entre os residentes do Bairro da Mafalala “A”, Cidade de Maputo

Abstract

The various languages ​​of power is a work that analyzes the different forms of exercise of power in making decisions about when and how many children to have. In literature analyzed, two perspectives of analysis were identified. The first argues that power is something that certain people hold and exercise over others, looking at the relationship power between heterosexual partners as a hierarchy (Amâncio, 1994; Daniel, 2001; Kergoat, 2007; Robbins, 2003; Romaneli, 2003; Weber, 1918). The other defends that power flows and is built in the social relationship (Boris, 2012; Focault, 1979; Silva et al, 2012; Tavares, 1996; Wolf, 1996). These two views make it possible to understand power, on the one hand, as something static in the which some exercise and others obey. On the other hand, they allow us to understand the power as something changeable, fluid and negotiated in each situation. However, I put under scrutinize these two perspectives of analysis to understand how the relations work of power between couples in the decision of when and how many children to have in the neighborhood of Mafalala. In line with the second perspective, I conducted an ethnographic research among a group of residents of the neighborhood of Mafalala, Maputo City. From the present study, it was understood that when deciding when and how many children to have the power ”says several languages ​​", that is, it is negotiated and exercised in different ways mutual knowledge and \ or daily experiences. It should be noted that the results of this study reinforce the idea of ​​the exercise of power as something fluid, where any individual can exercise power depending on each situation.(TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)