The tricks of female ownership: Analysis from the life stories of “Bolsa Família” women (Brazilian Family Assistance Program women)

Abstract

This article aimed to highlight the conceptions of Bolsa Família women (Family Assistance Program women) about female ownership. Therefore, four semi-structured interviews were carried out, based on the life history method, which data analysis technique was of the thematic type. Among the results, we identified that for women, ownership is understood as an important political advance for contributing to decision-making in the domestic space. They also did not identify problems regarding the fulfillment of conditionalities, which we intend to deal with actions understood as of the “maternal” order. Furthermore, they were poorly comprehended as active subjects in the process of transforming reality, which requires us to rethink our professional practice. Finally, it is concluded that the tricks of female ownership tend to feed back the fusion between patriarchal ideology and neoliberalism, insofar as the State is absent and transfers responsibilities in the eradication of poverty to the owner-mothers.