A cozinha como lugar de partilha de saberes : mulheres e trabalho em um contexto de privação de liberdade.

Abstract

This research investigates the prison kitchen as a space for learning, resignification, and identity construction. Within contexts of incarceration, the kitchen transcends its productive role, becoming a site of socialization and transformation where incarcerated women share knowledge and construct new life projects. The study aims to understand how these women's knowledge is constituted and expressed through prison labor, analyzing their work dynamics, challenges, and learning processes. To achieve this, the research adopts a qualitative, ethnographic approach, employing participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and field diary recordings. Data analysis follows the principles of Discursive Textual Analysis, facilitating the identification of patterns and emerging meanings within the women's narratives. Findings indicate that the prison kitchen functions as an informal educational environment, promoting the production, recognition, and appreciation of popular knowledge and fostering solidarity bonds. Despite the restrictions and challenges imposed by the prison system, women creatively reinvent recipes, share expertise, and reframe their work as an opportunity for autonomy and social reintegration. Additionally, experiences in the kitchen positively impact inmates' self-esteem, fostering a sense of belonging and dignity. The research underscores the significance of recognizing the kitchen as a site of learning and professional training within the carceral context, contributing to policy discussions surrounding education and prison labor. By giving visibility to these women's narratives, the study enhances the understanding of gastronomy's transformative potential as a tool for emancipation and the resignification of life trajectories within the prison system.