Social representations and intersectionalities of gender, class, and race

Reproductive processes of women accessing social assistance

Abstract

This study is the result of a research that investigated social representations and reproductive processes among women accessing services from the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS). Engaging with professionals working in these services and aiming to examine their practices, our objectives were twofold: (a) to examine the social representations associated with the reproductive processes of women assisted by SUAS, and (b) to reflect on the intersections of gender, social class, and race within this field. Employing a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 professionals. Drawing upon Critical Social Psychology, Social Representations Theory, the perspectives of Sexual and Reproductive Rights, decolonial feminism, and intersectional feminism, we utilized cultural domains as organizers of the analyses. Our findings indicate that the social representations held by professionals regarding the reproductive processes of women accessing SUAS are still primarily associated with family, motherhood, and birth control, with limited consideration given to the intersections of gender, class, and race. However, critical perspectives are also emerging, particularly concerning fatherhood and the role of men in reproduction and family care, indicating the dynamic nature of social representations.