Raspadeiras de mandioca: a mulher na produção da farinha de mandioca, na Vila de São Jorge / Igarapé-Açú / PA

Abstract

This paper is the result of research on women in the traditional production of manioc flour, with emphasis on the scraping of cassava, an activity carried out primarily by women. The singularity of the role of these women who live this experience aroused the interest to investigate this theme. This is a qualitative study (MINAYO, 2001), guided by field research (LAKATOS; MARCONI, 2003). Investigation mobilized by the following question: What is the importance and relevance of the role of women cassava scrapers in the exercise of their skills and knowledge? We have as a general objective: to investigate the work of women scrapers of cassava in Vila de São Jorge, Igarapé-Açu - Pará, identifying their profile; working conditions; the implications and inferences of the work of these subjects in the community. We dialogued with concepts and authors such as: Decoloniality (MIGNOLO, 2017), Woman (BEAUVOIR, 1967), Anthropy (FERNANDES; RAMOS, 2020). Our locus is the Vila de São Jorge, municipality of Igarapé-Açú, Northeast Paraense. The production of data was carried out via the following instruments: semi-structured interviews based on life stories, field notebook, visits to the production spaces, and image records. Six (6) women were interviewed, between 21 and 60 years old, based on the following criteria: being a woman manioc scraper, having this activity as the main source of income. The result of the investigation points to the expansion of the academic debate on knowledge and traditional practices, elucidating the relationships established in the production space, the protagonism, the resistance of women in their trade. The urgent need for public policies aimed at this female audience, especially for cassava scrapers.