Social representations on the feminization of the magisterium in the pernambuco press (1885-1915)

Abstract

Considering the teaching activity in Brazil as been initiated by men, and considering the Brazilian teacher profile in basic education as predominantly feminine (INEP, 2009), it is necessary to think about feminization of national mastership and the factors that contributed to this. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to understand the social representation about woman and the female mastership in Pernambuco press in the end of 19^th century and beginning of 20^th century, considering how those representations could induce the process of mastership feminization. Aiming to understand those representations and their influences, we analyzed newspapers written by women and to women, as well as academic society’s newspapers and the Public Instruction Magazine of Pernambuco, official document of state. We based our research theoretically in cultural history studies, precisely in Roger Chartier (1990). In this perspective, it’s important underscore the significance of working with newspapers to History and Education research, because it does not only portray the society itself, but it takes part on it. While we were analyzing the representations it was possible to see the scarcity of speeches related to woman teacher. In the other hand, it is possible to perceive the importance of woman education as mother of the future men of the nation. We end that positivism contributed to mastership feminization, because it reinforces the man in a position of power. The woman and woman teacher’s education were related to the role of being mother and the supposed feminine sensibility should be directed to do not worry about peddling, providing full development to their students.