Representações da mulher negra no jornal Gazeta de Notícias do Rio de Janeiro de 1900 a 1905

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the representations of Black women in the Gazeta de Notícias newspaper of Rio de Janeiro during the early 20th century, specifically between 1900 and 1905, with a particular focus on the post-abolitionist context. This historical period is crucial, as it marks the transition of Brazilian society, which, despite having formally abolished slavery, remained deeply rooted in racist practices and mentalities. The research examines the extent to which the representations conveyed by the newspaper influenced identity construction and the perpetuation of racial and social stereotypes, seeking to understand how Black women were portrayed and positioned within the social structure of the time. Grounded in Stuart Hall’s (1997) and Roger Chartier’s (1991) theories of representation, the study adopts a qualitative, documentary, and exploratory approach with an interpretivist perspective.These theoretical frameworks are essential for understanding how media representations construct and sustain social meanings, particularly at the intersection of race and gender. The methodology involves a meticulous analysis of articles, advertisements, and columns from Gazeta de Notícias, aiming to identify patterns and recurrences in the representations of newly emancipated Black women, as well as to explore the social and historical conditions that shaped these narratives. The broad field of Applied Linguistics plays a central role in this study, extending its scope beyond language teaching to examine language use in social contexts. This perspective allows for a deeper understanding of power dynamics and symbolic representations present in the media discourse of the time. Here, Applied Linguistics serves as a tool to decipher the extent to which journalistic language contributed to the consolidation of power structures and social inequalities by perpetuating stereotypes and reinforcing the subaltern condition of Black women. The findings indicate that the representations of Black women in Gazeta de Notícias played a significant role in sustaining racial and gender stereotypes, thereby reinforcing their marginalization during a period of profound social change in Brazil. These results underscore the importance of understanding the intersections of media, language, and power to conduct a critical analysis of social representations and their influence on collective identity formation.