As jovens rurais dos cursos de Pedagogia da UFPel (2018/2 a 2023/1): aspectos da vida e da formação

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the study of rural young women enrolled in the Pedagogy programs at the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel). The objective is to analyze the experiences of young women connected to rural areas and undergoing their education, investigating whether their choice of program is a personal decision, or a social condition imposed on young women from the rural southern region. To achieve this, a mapping of students from the afternoon and evening Pedagogy courses in 2023 was carried out. In this study, 12 young women participated in semi-structured interviews, covering admissions from the second semester of 2018 to the first semester of 2023. The student mapping followed the snowball effect, where one participant refers to another. The age range of the participants is between 18 and 27 years old, residing in municipalities or districts near Pelotas, where the university is located, which facilitates their access to the program. Through dialogues with the 12 young women, it was unanimously identified that they self-identify as rural youth, and the majority are daughters of family farmers who wish to return to their localities after completing the program to work as teachers, indicating their unique way of being in the world and (re)existing in this place that holds deep meaning for them. The data revealed that the Pedagogy program emerged as the best educational alternative given the social conditions they face. For them, becoming teachers represents the possibility of better life and work conditions, and consequently, the opportunity to gain autonomy and financial independence. In addition to demonstrating and contributing to the reflection on the diversity of families in rural areas, this research aims to provide visibility and credibility to the struggles of rural communities in the southern region, as well as contribute to combating the invisibility of financial issues faced by family farming. Ultimately, it is emphasized that there is a need for greater attention to the specificities of economically vulnerable rural youth regarding student financial aid.