This project explores the gender relations among a group of recyclers belonging to a consortium of nine recycling cooperatives in the ABC region of São Paulo, Brazil. Employing a feminist geographical lens and participatory research methodologies I examine these uniquely gendered spaces. This thesis is divided into four sections. Each section is written in an attempt to improve understandings of the ways in which the spaces of the recycling cooperatives are gendered. In the first section I provide information that frames the thesis and the larger research project. I begin this section by providing a geographical and socio-economic overview of the region where the research took place. This is followed by a discussion of my research methodology, a literature review of the relationship between women, solid waste, and labour in Brazil, and a look at my reflexive positioning as a researcher on this project. Section two explores the relationship between gender, empowerment and equity among cooperative recyclers involved with this study. This section poses the question: in what ways has the recycling cooperative allowed for women to inspire personal and social change and have the power to influence the institutions that affect their lives? I argue that the recycling cooperatives involved with this study are spaces where individuals who have traditionally lacked access to power are granted the opportunities to empower themselves. Section three is about performed social relations, specifically the role of hegemonic masculinity in shaping gendered space within the recycling cooperatives. Drawing from qualitative research data, this section critically explores the deployment of power within the lives of the cooperative recyclers. First, I explore the concept of hegemonic masculinity, and suggest its importance for understanding gendered space. Second, I draw on my personal research experiences and qualitative data to provide a spatial examination of the most salient aspects of hegemonic masculinity in the lives of the female cooperative recyclers. Third, I support the notion that masculine domination is not something only established by men and designed to oppress women, but women themselves can construct and reinforce hegemonic masculinities. Section four concludes the study by highlighting apparent shortcomings of the research and implications for future research. Concerned with apparent contradictions between the arguments in sections two and three, I provide a discussion of the multiplicities of space and explain that such contradictions are inherent to the nature of social space. Following this I offer a critical self-reflection of my methodology were I discuss my complicity in reproducing gender binaries and post-colonial research practices. / Graduate

Orientador: Renato Dias Baptista / Coorientadora: Sandra Cristina de Oliveira / Resumo: O município de Tupã foi um dos pioneiros do Brasil a inserir a coleta seletiva em seu sistema de gestão de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU), entretanto, o sistema ainda carece de melhorias. Um dos aspectos que devem ser levados em consideração é o papel da comunicação na efetividade do programa. Neste aspecto, essa dissertação teve como objetivo analisar as formas de comunicação adotadas no Programa de Coleta Seletiva (PCS) de RSU do município de Tupã/SP. Para a consecução dos objetivos, foi identificado como a comunicação está inserida nas políticas públicas referentes à gestão de RSU, foi delineado o processo comunicacional utilizado entre os atores envolvidos no processo, foram identificadas as lacunas da comunicação e, por fim, foram identificadas possibilidades de melhoria nos aspectos comunicacionais investigados. A pesquisa contou com um estudo de caso para descrição do processo de comunicação do município analisado e também com uma pesquisa documental, em que foi possível detectar a magnitude em que a comunicação está inserida dentro das políticas públicas do município de Tupã. A técnica aplicada para a obtenção dos dados primários foi o formulário. Estes foram aplicados aos gestores públicos da Secretaria de Agricultura e Meio Ambiente e da Seção de Imprensa, ao presidente da cooperativa do município e a uma amostra da população do mesmo. Para a escolha da amostra da população foi utilizada duas técnicas de amostragem, a amostragem estratificada e a amostragem por cong... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The county of Tupã was one of the pioneers in Brazil to insert the selective collection in its municipal solid waste management (MSW) system, however, it still needs improvements. One of the aspects that should be considered is the communication function in the effectiveness of the program. In this aspect, this thesis had as an objective to analyze the communication forms adopted in the Program of Selective Collection (PCS) of RSU in Tupã city / SP. In order to achieve the objectives, it was identified how the communication is inserted in the public policies related to MSW management, the communicational process used among the subjects involved in the process was outlined, the communication failures were identified and, finally, possibilities of improvement in the communicational aspects investigated were identified. The research encompassed a case study to describe the communication process of the municipality analyzed and it also involved a documentary research, where it was possible to detect the grandeur in which the communication is inserted within the public policies of the Tupã county. The technique used to obtain the primary data was by using forms. These forms were applied to the public Managers of the Department of Agriculture and Environment and the Press Section, to the President of the cooperative in the municipality and to a population sample in this city. Two sampling techniques were used to select the population sample, stratified sampling and sampling by clus... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Submitted by Geyciane Santos (geyciane_thamires@hotmail.com) on 2015-06-26T12:51:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação-Luiza de Marilac Miléo Moreira.pdf: 1738361 bytes, checksum: 22e1a2efb723ba0cdaf4ec9b50088f44 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-26T14:52:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação-Luiza de Marilac Miléo Moreira.pdf: 1738361 bytes, checksum: 22e1a2efb723ba0cdaf4ec9b50088f44 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-06-26T15:05:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação-Luiza de Marilac Miléo Moreira.pdf: 1738361 bytes, checksum: 22e1a2efb723ba0cdaf4ec9b50088f44 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-26T15:05:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação-Luiza de Marilac Miléo Moreira.pdf: 1738361 bytes, checksum: 22e1a2efb723ba0cdaf4ec9b50088f44 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-09 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study conducts an approach on the presence of women in the work of Collecting garbage and its relationship with the solidarity economy in Manaus. Your overall goal turns to verify the insertion of recyclable materials in the process of solidarity economy, with particular emphasis on social and work practices of these women and pointing their growing participation in supportive economic cooperatives. The grooming is a work that has been gaining recognition for the national public power and social notoriety for contributing to the reintegration of workers in the supply chain of recycling. The theme of gender intertwined with the environment and sustainability is the guiding concept of discussions throughout this process . With regard to this methodology takes study the contribution of qualitative approaches without exclusion of the quantitative aspects. The empirical sample elected 02 cooperatives of recyclable materials , in which surveyed 08 women , and 06 external subjects heard in the semi-structured interview type , for a total of 14 people . Among the various observed aspects became clear that there is a feminization of the solidarity economy in the category of grooming in Manaus . These women exercise leadership in work and family, even though fellow , and refuse to exercise two work shifts . Finally there need to formulate policies targeting them, needing therefore a greater commitment by the local public administration for the realization of the National Solid Waste Policy , as well as the consolidation of this public priority in public policies . / Este estudo realiza uma abordagem sobre a presença das mulheres no trabalho de catação de materiais recicláveis e sua relação com a economia solidária em Manaus. Seu objetivo geral se volta para verificar a inserção das catadoras de materiais recicláveis no processo da economia solidária, dando especial relevo às práticas sociais e de trabalho dessas mulheres e apontando sua crescente participação nas cooperativas econômicas solidárias. A catação é um trabalho que vem ganhando reconhecimento do poder público nacional e notoriedade social por contribuir com a reinserção dos trabalhadores na cadeia produtiva da reciclagem. A temática de gênero entrelaçada com o meio ambiente e sustentabilidade é o conceito norteador das discussões travadas ao longo deste processo. No que diz respeito à metodologia este estudo assume o aporte das abordagens qualitativas sem exclusão dos aspectos quantitativos. A amostra empírica elegeu 02 cooperativas de catadoras de materiais recicláveis, nas quais pesquisamos 08 mulheres, além de 06 sujeitos externos ouvidos em entrevista do tipo semiestruturado, perfazendo um total de 14 pessoas. Dentre os múltiplos aspectos constatados ficou claro que há uma feminização da economia solidária na categoria de catação em Manaus. Estas mulheres exercem a liderança no trabalho e na familia, mesmo tendo companheiros, e se recusam exercer a dupla jornada de trabalho. Há, enfim, necessidade de elaboração de políticas públicas direcionadas à elas, precisando, pois, de maior empenho por parte da gestão pública local para a efetivação da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos, bem como a consolidação da prioridade desse público nas políticas públicas.