As mulheres negras e a transição capilar: empoderamento, consumo e padrão estético

Abstract

The following work aims to verify if and how the capillary transition is understood and experienced as a mechanism of empowerment by black women based on the experiences shared by the members of the online community on Facebook called "cacheadas em transição". The capillary transition is the process that is experienced when one stops the hair manipulation, deciding by the natural use of it. The study is based on the sociocultural theory of consumption proposed by Garcia-Canclini (2010) to interpret the consumption relations developed by the members of the community. The proposals of Stuart Hall (2002) and Tadeu da Silva (2014) collaborate to understand the production process of identity of the black woman from the capillary transition, as well as Pierre Bourdieu (2002) theory about power and violence helps to understand the social condition of the black woman. Methodologically, the research presents itself as a study of virtual ethnography, following the principles proposed by Christine Hine (2004). A total of 652 publications were conducted by black women in the online community, from July 1 to 31, 2016. Based on the analysis of these publications, the study results indicate that, although the transition process does not totally liberate black women from the culture whitening begins an exercise of questioning about the imposition of the white beauty pattern and affirms the black and curly identity in a more positive way. The study also suggests that the empowerment of the black woman is achieved, since it is also perceived as a vain and consuming power, re-signifying black femininity, a matter historically denied. Online communities such as "cacheadas em transição" establish as essential spaces for the encouragement, support and integration of black women.