"Primeiro Deus, depois o CRAS" : um estudo sobre consciência e desigualdade social a partir de sujeitos destinatários da política de assistência social

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze how the people aimed by the social assistance policy perceive themselves and their reality and act in face of poverty conditions in which they are inserted. We understand that structural social inequality crosses the formation of the people' consciousness and subjectivity, generating different and contradictory psychosocial processes, such as fatalism, resignation and revolt. Therefore, we used the semi-structured interview, as well as the field diary from the follow-up period of the activities developed in a basic social protection service, located in the city of Juiz de Fora (MG). In line with the objectives drawn in our work and based on a historical and dialectical analysis of social phenomena, we observe that the predominance of fragmented and individualistic views on social inequality and the consequent difficulty in recognizing their social position in class society reinforces pessimistic, conformist, and immediatists postures in thise subordinate classes, the material precariousness forged on their daily realities. On the other hand, sentiments of revolt, indignation and collectivity take root and are often silenced by the contradictions inherent in prevailing ideologies and social relations. The forms of confrontation/resignation of reality found, in general, permeate religious beliefs and/or the attempt of personal and meritocratic effort. Given this scenario, the social assistance policy, especially from the neoliberal perspective, has shown its limitations in contributing, dialectically, to advances in the material and subjective conditions of life of the people, “assisted” by, as it which bumps into the dominance of charitable and focused logic that tend to reinforce their subordinate condition. While we consider the importance of strengthening social policies in the perspective of the fight for rights, it is necessary to point out effective strategies that strengthen and incite the rebelliousness sometimes concealed of the people, towards the radical overcoming of the social ills produced in and by the capitalist relations of production.