The constitution of knowledge and collective subjects in activities related to collecting recycable materials

Abstract

This research has its origin in a context of research, linked to post graduation studies.  It tried to identify professional and emancipatory knowledge in collective activities dedicated to recollection, selection and commercialization of recyclable materials.  In a general sense, it was guided by the hypothesis that these pieces of knowledge contribute, through the process of professional socialization, to the cooperative organization, in other words, to the new relationships between waste pickers and consequently, enable empowerment in the market relationships as well as greater autonomy in relation to their work. That is to say, conducting them to reassure themselves as collective subjects of power, by association and cooperation. During the process of data production for analysis and interpretation, it used the methodology of “life stories”, performing three interviews with the support of semi-structured questions. It is an approach of social reality lived by the researched subjects and the possibility of transformation of that reality by the same subjects involved in the process. Having the popular education as a method and learning educational practices, the recyclable material pickers would acquire professional knowledge and professional socialization, achieving greater work autonomy and social emancipation.