“Eu não mexo com lixo, eu só mexo com limpeza”: análise de conteúdo temática sobre as trajetórias de carreiras de coletores de lixo domiciliar

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the careers of residential garbage collectors to understand how their trajectories are experienced and interpreted. The systematic literature review revealed a scarcity of studies on careers involving individuals in this occupation, despite the social and environmental importance of this labor activity. Furthermore, the research is justified by its potential contribution to fostering collective and individual reflections on the careers of these individuals. This study acknowledges that a career is not limited to work but encompasses a narrative connecting past, present, and future. To answer how careers in the occupation of residential garbage collectors are experienced and interpreted, the general objective was to understand the careers of residential garbage collectors in both objective and subjective dimensions, as well as their context. To this end, three specific objectives were outlined: characterize the occupation of residential garbage collector, emphasizing the objective dimension of the career and its contextual factors; analyze the subjective dimension of the career, detailing the experiences lived by residential garbage collectors and their interpretations of trajectories and work contexts involving garbage; and examine how residential garbage collectors envision the future for their careers, considering their occupation in light of contextual factors. The following data collection techniques were used: narrative interviews with residential garbage collectors; semi-structured interviews with a manager from the organization responsible for residential garbage collection in the municipality where this research was conducted; field observation diaries to support interviews; and document research. Consistent with the interpretative nature of the research, thematic content analysis was conducted using mixed-category grids. The analysis of the objective dimension of careers revealed a context of legal initiatives over time aimed at formalizing the occupation of residential garbage collectors in Brazil, formally recognizing various occupational risks. There is a possibility for a career related to residential garbage collection activities, including opportunities for salary growth and advancement to higher hierarchical positions within the organizational structure. Conversely, the analysis of the subjective dimension revealed that living a career as a residential garbage collector means dealing with dualities in daily life: risks versus safety at work; competition versus collaboration among collectors; social recognition versus social exclusion. Although the analysis of the objective dimension indicates that this is an essential occupation in Brazil, the subjective dimension revealed it as challenging and still subject to stigmatization in society. As practical implications, this research contributes to disseminating information about the context of careers and work involving garbage collection and its individual and social challenges.