Os modos de existir de uma família moradora do lixão de Aguazinha:um estudo de caso

Abstract

This is a phenomenological-based qualitative research that aims at understanding the ways of life of a family living at Lixão de Aguazinha. The comprehension was based upon the narratives of a family, composed by father (37), Mother (38) and seven children with ages ranging from 03 to 16 years old. It covers aspects such as: life, accommodation, work, values, hopes and wishes, the relationship among the family members, the space each member takes in the house and how it occurs. The narratives have been recorded on tape cassettes and then written literally. The results have been submitted to a comprehensive analysis and point out that a poor and large family preserves the family relationship hierarchy, and values the couple s and the children s privacy. Respect and affect is on the basis of the marital and filial relationship and is supported by the dialogue between the couple and with the children. Work collecting recyclable materials at the Lixão was a strategy the family has found to survive unemployment and hunger. It is highlighted the fact that, because they live and work in a space where garbage is thrown, the family feels they are the poorest people in the world. The value they attributed to their work is that it is better to work at the Lixão than to steal. The interest (of this research) was to produce knowledge that may come to help psychology professional and other related areas to start a practice which is closer to the needs presented by this population