Homens jovens e aborto: a perspectiva masculina face à gravidez imprevista

Abstract

Trata-se de investigação socioantropológica que situa o aborto como evento inscrito no quadro mais amplo do exercício da sexualidade heterossexual, das relações entre gêneros, do manejo contraceptivo e da reprodução. O objetivo da pesquisa foi evidenciar a teia de relações sociais que engendram processos de negociação e de decisão em torno da interrupção de gestações imprevistas e formas de realização do aborto, com base em narrativas sobre trajetórias afetivo-sexual, contraceptiva e reprodutiva de mulheres e homens, de diferentes classes sociais e gerações. Neste artigo, o foco recai na posição dos homens jovens diante da gravidez e do aborto voluntário, adotando-se uma perspectiva relacional de gênero para se analisar o fenômeno. O material empírico reúne 13 entrevistas em profundidade com homens de 18 a 27 anos, de camadas populares e médias, residentes no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A complexidade das relações de poder estabelecidas entre o casal, seus familiares e amigos engendra distintos desfechos possíveis em relação à participação masculina no evento: ciência do aborto a posteriori, na medida em que não foi consultado; participação consensual na tomada de decisões frente à gestação e aborto; desacordo entre o casal, prevalecendo a decisão feminina, a despeito do parceiro; constrangimento por parte do parceiro na decisão tomada pela jovem. A participação masculina no âmbito da reprodução e do aborto tem sido uma lacuna da literatura científica a ser enfrentada. Assumir a tensão instaurada entre gêneros na questão do aborto, entre autonomia reprodutiva feminina e responsabilidade masculina, é uma tarefa central para os que pesquisam o tema nas ciências sociais e saúde.

Formas de (des)engajamento: aborto entre homens adultos no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

“…The analysis of the empirical data as a whole confirmed that gender and social class were stronger determinants than generation in the abortion issues among the male narratives. The empirical data from the older men and on the analysis performed in younger men (Brandão et al, 2020) is expected to confirm that externality in the abortion constitutes a determinant of male involvement in the event, irrespective of generation. In addition, it is evident that men from poorer social strata invariably become parents at a younger age, a situation common to interviewees of both age groups (18-27 and 40-49 years), corroborating that fatherhood in this social class is an attribute defining masculinity (Costa, 2002;Cabral, 2003;Figueroa-Perea, 2004).…”

“…There is less negotiation between the couple and more coercion in the form of male imposition to see the pregnancy discontinued. It is noteworthy that this position of male coercion with their partner was not evident among young men aged 18-27 years (Brandão et al, 2020). With regard to this aspect, although gender and class were identified as central in determining behavior among interviewees, there is clearly a generational influence.…”

“…There was greater reluctance among men to grant interviews. As outlined in the analysis of young male experience (Brandão et al, 2020), the issue had been deemed strictly female, and many men stated the matter had nothing to do with them or said this was a topic they felt unable to comment on. Refusal to take part was justified by the uncertainty over who had fathered the unborn child; doubt on whether the pregnancy was true; awareness of the pregnancy only after the abortion had been carried out (thus with no detailed information); and doubts over the outcome of the pregnancy (miscarriage or abortion).…”

“…Albeit very slowly, a shift in the social landscape is taking place with regard to a reduction in the hierarchical imbalance characterizing gender relations: situations of mutual agreement on the abortion decision are evident in the empirical evidence from younger men and women (Brandão et al 2020;Heilborn et al 2012a;2012b). In another study, a change in the construction of forms of engagement on contraception was found: the contemporary discourse on new male contraceptive technology is emerging underpinned by the image of an actively-engaged man, with a sense of entitlement to rights, and no longer someone who merely shares the burden of this process with a partner (Pereira and Azize, 2019).…”

“…Forms of (dis)engagement: abortion among adult men in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Introduction Investigating the male perspective with respect to abortion calls for the theoretical and methodological effort of considering reproductive events in the context of the relationship dimension. Recently, as part of a broader study on which this article drew, we conducted an initial study on male involvement in voluntary abortion based on experiences of young men aged 18-27 years (Brandão et al, 2020). Furthering build on these results, albeit in a tangential manner, we envisaged a comparative investigation of the experience of older men aged 40-49 years, considering what this empirical data might reveal in terms of a broader understanding of men in this event.…”