SANTA MÃE, SANTA FILHA: A RELIGIOSIDADE COMO MANUTENÇÃO DAS VIOLÊNCIAS DE GÊNERO EM “CORPO DESFEITO” DE JARID ARRAES

Abstract

The stereotypes surrounding the Brazilian backlands are simplified and often distorted representations of this region. Amid the northeastern backlands, a landscape unfolds that transcends stereotypes and preconceived narratives. It is within this context that the present research is developed, focusing on the work Corpo Desfeito by the northeastern writer Jarid Arraes (2022). Considering decolonial studies as the theoretical foundation, this work aims to discuss the religious aspects established in the narrative, which define the development of the characters and their relationships. Recognizing the Church and the individuals' relationship with faith and religious authority, we delve into the various elements that compose the cultural imaginary of the Brazilian Northeast and their influence on the control of women's behavior, as well as on standards and bodies. Thus, we consider religiosity as a crucial element in the construction of spaces and subjectivities, particularly feminine ones. Regarding northeastern religiosity and the maintenance of power instruments over bodies, we rely on Pontes (2014), Souza (2004), and Klein (2021). For the theoretical foundation of decolonial studies, we draw on the works of Lugones (2020), Moreira (2016), Curiel (2020), and Zolin (2020). Finally, we will bring forth historical studies about women, proposed by Lerner (2019), Negreiros (2019), among others.