Economia solidária e catadores de materiais recicláveis em Salvador e Curitiba: políticas públicas e a enunciação de identidades no Brasil

Abstract

The aim of this article is to reflect, within an anthropological framework, about the identity of the recyclable paper collectors of Salvador and Curitiba and about the public policies adopted to implement training courses for the above mentioned collectors of recyclable paper, in Brazil. After having participated, in 2010, of a qualitative research of national level of the “Evaluation of the project for the strengthening of the collectors of recyclable paper cooperatives: training for self-management, technical assistance and mobilization”, carried out by the Bank of Brazil Foundation, along with the Ministry of Labor and Employment, I had the opportunity to perform an in-depth research with the representatives of the national movement of the recyclable paper collectors of Salvador and Curitiba. Having this oral interactions as a starting point, it was possible to outline some of the statements of the entities, as far as the relationship between the government and the social movement was concerned. My goal was to reflect, from an ethnographic perspective, about the statements and discourse made by those who were interviewed regarded their own identity. From the moment they were enrolled in the training courses, whose goal is the social and economic emancipation of this segment, the idea of social inclusion presents itself as a new place of self expression, due to the fact that they have been, historically, seen as excluded.