A REPRESENTAÇÃO SOCIAL DA HOMOFOBIA NA CIDADE DE LORENA/SP

Abstract

This essay results from a research in progress that has been carried out by the Observatory of School Violence, headed by a research group of UNISAL, located in Lorena/SP, which studies conflicts, school climate, exclusion, prejudices, Human Rights, learn to live with, Tolerance, and respect for "Being" human in school environment. The aim was to investigate, on a community located in Lorena, the social representation in relation to the homophobia phenomenon performed by adolescents, adults and elderly, aged 16 to 84, who have wandered the main city square. There was carried out 671 interviews, 330 in 2006 and 341 in 2007. Established as a longitudinal survey, since it has studied a given population in distinct occasions represented by different individuals, it allows for an analysis of the shifting process through the time. The research tool used was a semi-structured interview composed by open and close questions. The data taken from the open questions has been submitted to a methodology in conformity with tenets of content analysis. The grasp of thoughts and judgements about homophobia is basic to try new ways of clarification, as such giving educators the necessary tools to cope with the subject in discussion. By means of data categorization and from the analysis of the obtained responses, it means to bring about actions towards primary and secondary level prevention to contribute to public politics, as well as to the reduction of homophobic feelings, prejudice and discrimination against homossexuality, and, subsequently, to help to promote human rights.