“Thinking like a boy is easier”: constructions of gender relations in the speech of female adolescents

Abstract

Socially constructed gender relations affect the adoption of behaviors related to sexuality, and may have impact on women occupational performance. The objective of this study was to describe and analyze constructions of gender relations in the female adolescents discourse and the possible impacts of them on occupational performance. Methodology: exploratory and descriptive study conducted with 34 female adolescents from a public school. The data collected through the recording of interventions to promote sexual and reproductive health and notes taken in a field diary that were subjected to thematic content analysis. Results and Discussion: we identified four thematic categories: childhood and gender; gender relations in everyday life; gender relations and sexuality and gender relations and teenage pregnancy. It was observed the traditional conceptions marked by oppression and subordination of women in relation to men, more problem-solving perspectives of gender relations that enable greater empowerment of women in everyday life. Conclusion: these data demonstrate the importance of actions and research conducted by occupational therapists focused on possible relationship between sex, gender, sexuality and occupational performance.