Classroom reading as mediator for gender equality construction

Abstract

The present essay aims to reflect about actions in classrooms that enable discussions about gender equality, since the minorities’ literature is even more important. Among them, the literature that exposes the suffering, the livingness, the traumas, and women’s oppression is central to lead us to the basic education classroom universe, its reflections and theorizations. So, the present text proposes an analysis of a project built with High School students in classes such as Portuguese language, Literature and Textual production. This work comprehends a video untitled Vida Maria, by Marcio  Ramos, and two tales named A moça tecelã and Para que ninguém a quisesse, by Marina Colassanti. The purpose of this work was to lead students to the gender theme and to make them confront their own impressions about selected and presented texts, by reading or debating gender issues, and by writing memories that related their life experiences with what was read. The methodology was based on the discussion of relevant issues for teenagers and of the choice of the 'gender' theme, mainly because questions involving sexuality made them anxious. Later, a selection of texts - written and visual – was made in order to create a classroom discussion and debate about the texts, and also a written analysis by the students was done. Short-term results do not always occur, but it is expected that, through a work focusing on gender differences, it is possible to influence in society’s vision on women, and to make students aware they can transform the reality in which they live.