Life projects and professional aspirations of young graduates of the CEFET-MG Pro-Technical course

Abstract

Life projects and professional aspirations of young female students from low-income classes, graduates of the CEFET-MG Pro-Technical extension course are analyzed. The objective is to understand if and how such projects are influenced by the division of labor between the sexes and its unfoldings, the motivations and challenges faced by students, and also their expectations regarding the world of work. To this end, an exegesis of excerpts from the speeches of the students participating in the research in the light of the theories of the Sexual Division of Labor, of Francophone origin, dialoguing with theories about youth and life projects. Due to the need of social isolation, since the Covid-19 pandemic, conversation circles and semi-structured configuration were carried out remotely, with eight Pro-Técnico graduates, in order to achieve a closer approach to the object of study. The research participants reports show that their experience throughout the Pro-Técnico contributed to their socialization with other belonging groups and to the (re) development of their youth constructions. Several challenges were highlighted by these girls, such as study routines with exhausting workloads; plenty of time spent with transportation back home; division of time with triple or multiple shifts - study, housework, paid work, physical, religious and personal activities, etc. In addition to that, they report gender discrimination in the academic environment and in the world of work, such as the selection of vacancies for trainees who are exclusively male. However, the young women seek means of confrontation and resistance. According to the narratives, not only “work builds the youth” but also “school builds the youth”. It can be seen in the case studied that “Technological Education builds youth” as well, as it has been contributing to the formation of conditions for young women and active citizens in society.