Abstract

VIANNA, Cláudia  and  RAMIRES, Lula. The eloquence of silence: gender and sexual diversity in the concepts of family disseminated by school textbooks. Rev. psicol. polít. [online]. 2008, vol.8, n.16, pp.345-362. ISSN 2175-1390.

This paper is part of a broader research project whose characteristics were specified in the presentation of the four articles which discuss the research results. It intends to identify and analyze, using the concepts of sexual diversity and gender relationship, the homophobic occurrences in family models presented in school textbooks evaluated and distributed by the Brazilian government, and in use in 2007 and 2008. 67 of the 98 school books widely distributed to Brazilian public schools which provide basic education were selected. It was found, however, that the lack of explicit mentions to homosexuals and/or homosexuality shows indeed the silence covering the subject. The data interpretation led to the conclusion that - in spite of the advances resulting from the abundance of images and exercises aimed at introducing some aspects of gender relations that go beyond the traditional family patterns - the absence of sexual diversity and of homoparental families in images and texts is an expression of the power relationship that sustains the patriarchal and heterosexual model of family. On the other hand, the naturalization of heterossexualidade sustains the possibility of homophobia and somehow legitimates it as other relational forms of social visibility are excluded.

Keywords : Homophobia; Family; School textbook; Sexual diversity; Gender relations.

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