Art of mastering fire

the [collective] analysis of work activity as training for female welders

Abstract

This dissertation aims to explore labor through the analysis of the work activity of female welders. The study was conducted with women who worked on the construction sites of a national company in the electric power generation sector, situated in the North Fluminense port region of the state of Rio de Janeiro. In construction environments, the temporary outsourcing of labor for hiring purposes is commonplace. Traditionally, these spaces are predominantly occupied by men, with welding being an operational craft associated with a high risk of accidents. Additionally, women often face additional challenges related to workload and discrimination in this context. Some workers, as evidenced by this research, manage to occupy these spaces, supported by affirmative actions implemented by companies, including vocational formation programs. However, questions arise about the effects of these inclusion measures on the health or potential illness of the workers, as well as their perspectives on this work situation and how to strengthen the development of their agency. The research was conducted in the form of Intervention Research, grounded in Activity Clinic (Clot, 2007, 2010b) as the theoretical and methodological framework. The concepts of Institutional Analysis (Lourau, 1993) and principles related to life and health (Canguilhem, 2009) also underpin this approach. The adopted method involved Conversational Rounds, along with other devices. As an invitation to the collective analysis of work activity by the workers, our research does not seek to suppress controversies but rather to use them as tools for the development of resources for action. In dialogue with the welders, beyond stories of suffering and illness, narratives emerged demonstrating potency and the creation of new ways to enhance health and life through work. Thus, the focus of this dissertation lies in formation through activity, emphasizing the importance of dialogue in collective work and the critical analysis of the reality of work. By sharing their experiences, the welders have the opportunity to analyze their work activities and, in telling their stories, contribute to preserving the memory of this profession.