Sexualidade e Sofrimento Social: Revisão de literatura e histórias de vida à luz da Teoria da Subjetividade de González Rey

Abstract

This dissertation, titled “Sexuality and Social Suffering: Literature Review and Life Stories in Light of González Rey's Theory of Subjectivity,” aims to investigate the subjective dynamics related to sexuality and the suffering experienced by trans people in educational and social environments. Accordingly, the dissertation is structured in the format of two articles that approach the topic from different perspectives: a narrative literature review grounded in the Theory of Subjectivity (TS) and a case study based on the life and academic trajectories of trans graduate students through thematic oral history interviews. The first article, titled “Narrative Review on the Contributions of González Rey's Theory of Subjectivity to Gender and Sexuality in Brazilian Publications,” presents an analysis of manuscripts that utilize TS as a theoretical framework to discuss gender and sexuality. TS, proposed by Fernando González Rey, understands subjectivity as a dynamic and multifactorial construct, configured by subjective senses derived from individual experiences and social interactions. This article suggests that social norms, health policies, educational practices, and family contexts significantly impact the subjectivity of LGBTQIA+ individuals, generating both psychological distress and processes of subjective sense-making and empowerment. Meanwhile, support networks and psychotherapeutic interventions emerge as essential factors for the well-being and safety of these populations, highlighting TS as an appropriate tool for understanding and addressing complex issues related to gender and sexuality. The second article, titled “Social Suffering in the Life Trajectories of Trans People,” employs the Thematic Oral Life History methodology to investigate the experiences of Caetano and Klaus, who are enrolled in graduate programs in Brazil. This qualitative research contributed by highlighting the impacts of social suffering on the participants' life and academic trajectories, particularly by identifying the structural and symbolic barriers faced by this group in contexts of exclusion and discrimination. The analysis of the interviews through the lens of TS revealed that these individuals' subjective configurations are shaped by the precariousness of social relationships and their relentless search for recognition and belonging, but also by the creation of new subjective meanings in hostile spaces. The convergence of the two articles provides a panoramic understanding of the dynamics of gender and sexuality, articulating theoretical and practical aspects to emphasize the importance of TS as a framework in psychology. While the first article theoretically grounds the challenges and advancements in the field, the second gives substance to these discussions through concrete experiences of individuals who continuously face the social and cultural tensions structuring social suffering. Thus, this dissertation significantly contributes to the field of psychology by offering an integrated perspective on the relationships between gender, sexuality, and social suffering, based on González Rey's Theory of Subjectivity. Additionally, it suggests pathways for promoting inclusive and welcoming practices in psychosocial contexts, fostering greater understanding and support for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly trans individuals.