BOLSA FAMÍLIA. AUTONOMY AND MONEY: A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE TICUNA WOMEN OF AMAZONAS

Abstract

I present some of the results of my master's dissertation entitled "Bolsa Família Program: an ethnography from the perspective of indigenous Ticuna women". My ethnographic study was carried out in the community of Nova Itália in the Vui-Uata-In indigenous territory, located in the municipality of Amaturá-AM. The ethnography presents the perspective of the Ticuna women who benefit from the Bolsa Familia programme, and mainly focuses on how they manage their allowances. We know that historically, women earn lower salaries than men, and consequently, they are the ones most affected when it comes to debt. It is often more challenging to pay off these debts because they are responsible for looking after their sons and daughters. In some cases, they are also responsible for older people, which makes household expenses higher, especially in communities where families live in the same house. Finally, I propose to present a reflection on Bolsa Família from the point of view of these women and, how the benefit contributes to the family budget and how money circulates inside and outside the village.