Tambores e corpos sáficos: uma etnografia sobre corporalidades de mulheres com experiências afetivo-sexuais com mulheres da cidade de Fortaleza

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to better understand how the gender expressions of women who have affective and sexual experiences with women are related to bodily self-care in order to promote health.The data was collected during a four-month field research with a percussion group called Tambores de Safo composed of black feminist women, lesbians and bisexuals and from Fortaleza in Ceará State. The focus of the observation was the performativity and gender performance related devices used by the group participants in their rehearsals and presentations. Moreover, informal interviews were performed to explore and make links related to health believes and women s expression of gender. The analyses of the ethnographic data revealed the importance of the ambience of the social places often visited by the group for the organization of their esthetic compositions. The researcher reflects about things that composed those esthetic arrangements and that served as performance related devices such as the hairstyle (dreadlock/black) and instruments ( alfaia drum and shekere rattle). Experiencing the body usage in their social places, in the interaction with the group and percussion learning sessions enabled the researcher to find out more about the corporealities of the group members. This also allowed the researcher to observe how they presented their bodies and to understand the recurrent gender changes resulting from the establishment of certain types of performances aimed at the management of a less affected by discrimination and more healthier life.