Heteronormative male adolescence: between "mandatory" construction and necessary deconstruction

Abstract

As part of a research that investigates the production of male adolescence towards f heteronormativity, our assumption is that the inadequacy of the subjects to strict models of, gender and sexuality has been the cause of social rejection, discrimination and suicide attempts among teenagers. Registered through cultural experiences, masculinities and sexualities have been constructed by the discourse and through social relationships in spaces like school and internet. Thus, as a methodological purpose to o articulate the two spheres, 200 male students, aged from 14 to16 years, of two schools located in the city of Uberaba - Minas Gerais, were invited to participate in the study. In another moment, through the use of pre-established criteria, 17 subjects were chosen and, through the use of virtual social network, it was possible to observe their speeches. The goal was to use these speeches as an empirical basis for this work. Our quest was to understand the components and processes of social constitution of identities of these subjects and understand the interdependencies between the categories. Still, the proposal is to contribute to the construction of knowledge which enables to discuss how masculinities are determined, experienced and conveyed to teenagers. Keywords: heteronormativity, masculinity, sexuality and adolescence