UNVEILING THE CONDITION OF BLACK WOMEN IN THE FACE OF SOLITUDE IN BRAZIL

THE CASE OF PROTAGONISTS IN MULHER NO ESPELHOAND MULHER MAT(R)IZ

Abstract

Inter-relationship among people in every society proffers many benefits to their lives, from the sharing of experiences, cultural values, belief, love to wealth, all these among many, mark them as social beings. However, there is a perpetual presence of individualism in contemporary society, because studies reveal that certain people find it difficult to relate with others thereby exhibiting cases of social isolation. Considering the black woman in diaspora, especially in Brazilian society, the history of their oppression has its root in slavery with a legion of single mothers and single women in solitude, eventually confining many to a state of mental impairment. This is the case of the protagonists in the work of Helena Perante Cunha, Mulher no espelhoand the short stories of Miriam Alves, Mulher mat(r)iz. This paper through the theory of “Escrevivência” seeks to analyze the conditions of these black Brazilian women that suffer from solitude and oppression, by exposing the social factors used by the oppressor.It will also evaluate the participation of the patriarchal society in the naturalization of gender oppression and proffers certain recommendations to achieve gender equality, mental health, and social inclusion.