"A mulher que fica": os desdobramentos socioeconômicos do estigma de cortesia e encarceramento na unidade familiar

Abstract

The aim of this scientific contribution is to discuss the social and economic consequences of the courtesy stigma of imprisonment on the family unit of convicts. To this end, the concept of courtesy stigma will be discussed initially, based on a bibliographical survey, with the aim of not only bringing the literature and the empirical closer together, but also amplifying the voices and experiences of those families who, like mine, have dealt with stigma and its perversity. Next, the notion of public policies will be addressed, as well as the importance of formulating social policies aimed at protecting the family of the incarcerated. In this way, a reading of these families will be glimpsed beyond the imagery of the "prisoner's family, taking into account authentic testimonies from interviewees - classified below as 'the woman who stays" - who bring to light the main implications of the socio-economic consequences of imprisonment on their lives, as well as the overload of care work and material responsibility. Interviews were therefore carried out in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, with women who are part of families in which one of the family members was imprisoned by the justice system at some point. From this survey, it was possible to identify that the stigma of courtesy functions as a hegemonic mode of individuation, constructing the social identity of the undesirable - family members of prisoners - with the main results being a reduction in family income, intensification of care work, social vulnerability, female loneliness and other prejudices relating to the unit.