MASCULINITIES AND WORK: ANTAGONISMS BETWEEN VIRILITY AND CARE IN THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CULTURE

Abstract

Social dynamics are strongly marked by human representations of gender and the world of work is - at the same time - a reflection and producer of these dynamics; a locus of reproduction and reaffirmation of stereotypes and antagonistic relationships between properties socially attributed to masculine and feminine. Based on this reflection, reflect on how this social construction of gender resulting in virility implies professional performance and care activities in the culture of occupational health and safety of male workers. Therefore, qualitative, descriptive bibliographical research was adopted as a method. As results, it was found that resistance to transformation and new collective dynamics of work and masculinity arises both in the organization of work and in the collective itself, permeating a broader, macrosocial context, which also encompasses the reproduction of this logic by women. For this phenomenon to be given new meaning, it is necessary for men marked by hegemonic vulnerability to be aware of and intend to give up this place of domination so that, freeing themselves from it, they can experience other places, especially that of care.