Pela perfectibilidade da raça: a infância no Primeiro Congresso Brasileiro de Eugenia (1929)

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the First Brazilian Congress of Eugenics, identifying what was the place of childhood in the construction of “projects” (VELHO, 1987) of the Brazilian nation, based on the works presented by the participants present at the event. Physicians, anthropologists, journalists, educators, jurists and miltary participated in the event, who presented works in the sections of 1) Anthropology, 2) Heredology and 3) Education and Legislation, allowing for an understanding of articulation and congregation in a space of exchange and sociability. As a research hypothesis, it is understood that childhood was considered one of the fundamental elements for the construction of a strong and healthy Brazilian nation in works and conferences presented at the First Brazilian Congress of Eugenics (1929). The time frame is justified in 1929 because it was the year the event was held, but also because it included the promotion of other initiatives, such as the foundation of the Eugenia Bulletin and the choice of the “ideal child” in the First Eugenia Contest. Among the sources analyzed in the research, the Relatório do Posto de Prophylaxia Rural de Merity (1919), the Actas e Trabalhos do Primeiro Congresso de Eugenia (1929) and periodicals such as O Paiz, A Manhã, Correio Paulistano. As for the theoretical-methodological references used, the following stood out: Velho (1987); Certeau (1982, 1998), Gomes and Hansen (2016); Schwarcz (1993, 2011); Souza (2006a, 2006b, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2017); Stepan (2005); Camara (2010, 2013, 2014a, 2014b, 2017), among others.