Um cotidiano de lutas: vivências de mães trabalhadoras na cidade de Manaus (1970-2000)

Abstract

This thesis discusses the trajectories of working mothers in the city of Manaus between the 1970s and 2000s, focusing on their living and working conditions. The research examines the characteristics and particularities of women’s labor in Manaus within the context of the creation of the Manaus Free Trade Zone—a period marked by significant changes to the city’s physical space and a rise in population due to a large influx of migrants. The study analyzes the challenges faced by mothers in the labor market, including the difficulties of entering and remaining in the workforce, as well as securing their labor rights. Additionally, it explores the conditions under which working mothers sought to "balance" motherhood and employment. To this end, an analysis of labor laws related to maternity was essential. Family life brought a range of demands that extended beyond the domestic sphere. Women turned to the legal system to claim their rights, such as child support, while also being subjected to it—losing custody of their children or facing criminal judgment for their actions. The diverse challenges faced by single mothers are highlighted in this thesis. These were women who found themselves alone in providing care and support for their children.