Representações imaginárias sociais da infidelidade conjugal feminina em Belém-PA

Abstract

The aim of his work was to identify and understand the social imaginary representations about the female extramarital relationship that are present into the speech of married women who keep extramarital relacionships. Cornelius Castoriadis’ theory supported the realization of this study. The utilized methodology was the qualitative methodology and semi-oriented interviews were achieved to obtain informations of the participants. Nine married women were interviewed, between 30 and 48 years-old, who belong to the urban middle class. These women were said to have at least one extramarital relationship. The data was analysed through “Método de Explicitação do Discurso Subjacente” (MEDS). The analysis of the results demonstrated that women justify their treasons due to the husband’s treason, as a revenge, or because their husband’s do not satisfy them affectively and/or sexually. The explored themes were: the various meanings that the interviewed women attributed to infidelity; the manner how these women live the feeling of guilt produced by existent conflicts between the introjected social rules and the desire to live an extramarital relationship. The matrimonial infidelity remits the happy moments that aren’t experienced daily, propiciated by moments of leisure. Therefore the imaginary dimension leads the human action, assuming a fundamental role in materialization of infidelity concerning the desire of these women to maintain another relationship outside their marriage. Therefore it is evident that only the knowledge of the socially established rules are not enough, even they are indispensable, to produce actions and thinking manners that are compatible with the social standards and values.