Between dream and reality: maternity in adolescence under the vision of a group of women from Maceio city suburbs – Alagoas

Abstract

A qualitative study, which aimed at comprehending, by the experiences of women who became mother in adolescence, the meaning of maternity in their context of life. Fourteen women from 20 to 24 years old, who lived in Maceio suburbs, capital of Alagoas State, took part in the study. The information collection was carried out through interviews, using thematic oral history as methodological procedure. We built narratives from these women’s life history and, later, we analyzed these narratives based on gender referential. We observed that interviewees had their sexual initiation during dating period when they had received no previous orientation concerning sexuality or reproductive health. Some women lived with their partners when pregnancy occurred, even though they considered it to be unexpected. The great majority of them accepted pregnancy, and there were also unions, even if they were not legalized, of many couple who did not lived together. There were reports of abortion attempts when the partner did not accept the pregnancy immediately. Gender questions are present in conjugal relations, with the partners figuring as family providers and women dependent on them, focused on domestic environment, taking the responsible by home, kids and partner’s care. Men acted freely, maintaining extra-conjugal relations and hitting their wives at home. Although resentful with their partner’s attitude, they maintained the relation. The interviews made explicit the lamentation with the lost of freedom, working and studying opportunities when assuming maternity. On the other hand, they emphasized their non-regret for taking their pregnancy till the end. This way, their daily living seems to be centered on their kids caring and they are conscious that they are the main responsible by them, turning their projects of life for this care. These mothers’ lives are marked by inequality, social, economical, cultural and gender conditions in which they live. This way, despite their manifested desire, they find few objective opportunities of breaking with life context in which they are inserted.