Conversando sobre sexualidade com filhos adolescentes: o olhar de mães de grupos populares

Abstract

The present study aimed to understand the perception of mothers of popular groups on the dialogue about sexuality with their teenagers For this purpose, it was performed a qualitative study, involving mothers of teenagers attending a Reference Center for Social Assistance (RCSA) from a country town of Rio Grande do Sul State. Nine interviews and two focal groups were performed, comprising three to five participants each group. Groups and interviews were analyzed using the analysis of content. The results are shown in three articles. In the first, it was aimed to understand the perception of the participating mothers, the challenges to establishing the dialogue about sexuality with their adolescent children. Stands out that the participating mothers presented some difficulties to talk about sexuality with their children, and thus, they could be transferring to the school the task of addressing this issue. Apart from school, these mothers indicated the public health services, internet and siblings would be sources of information about sexuality used by their children. The second paper presented, firstly, how the participating mothers reported having experienced the issue of dialogue about sexuality in family during their own adolescence, and secondly, the way how they deal this topic with their teenagers. The results show that most of the participants reported a past marked by silence, taboo and traumas regarding to sexuality. Many of them highlighted their attempts of not to reproduce the former familiar model, in other words, seeking to address this issue with their children. The third paper reflects, from the point of view of mothers, on some aspects of dialogue about sexuality between parents and teenagers. Most of the participants reported to have more easiness to talk with the teenage daughters than with sons. Some of the mothers reported the feeling of to be unprepared and embarrassed when it is need to talk about certain issues related to sexuality with their children, which would be more comfortable to address this subject with other male relatives. It was observed, from the participant´s reports, both, the perception that teenagers already have enough information on this subject, as well as the idea that they would expect clarification and openness to dialogue from their parents. Faced the reality observed in these studies, it is possible to say that, despite the complexity of the issue of sexuality and the difficulties faced by mothers to approach it with their children, most of them seemed to strive to reach this dialogue, differently of what was lived by them in the past, a fact which must be recognized as something highly positive. Finally, it is highlighted the needs for public policies that act along with families, encouraging the dialogue between parents and children.