Famílias chefiadas por mulheres na sociedade capitalista: uma análise de famílias monoparentais femininas no Município de São Luís - MA

Abstract

This dissertation, titled “Female-Headed Families in Capitalist Society: An Analysis of Female-Headed Single-Parent Families in the Municipality of São Luís, Maranhão,” aims to analyze the reality of low-income female-headed single-parent families within capitalist society in São Luís, Maranhão. It considers gender inequalities, socioeconomic conditions, and the challenges women face in managing and sustaining their families. The analysis is grounded in the understanding that capitalist society produces and reproduces gender inequalities that directly impact women's lives, particularly those who head their households without a spouse present. In this context, the study discusses the condition of women in capitalist society, highlighting how economic, social, and cultural factors contribute to the burden placed on women—a burden characterized by the accumulation of responsibilities for financial support, domestic chores, and caregiving activities. The study reflects on the sexual division of labor, understood as a historical and social construct that establishes distinct roles for men and women within society. It also addresses the role of the State in capitalist society; while the State formulates and implements public policies aimed at promoting gender equality, these policies prove insufficient to tackle the structural inequalities experienced by female heads of households. The research included an empirical phase and data analysis, which enabled an understanding of the challenges faced by female heads of single-parent families, highlighting difficulties related to employment, income, family care, and access to public policies. From a methodological standpoint, this study employs a qualitative approach based on a literature review and field research. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with women who head their households without a spouse present—preferably those with children. This methodological choice allowed for a comprehensive capture of these women's

experiences, perceptions, and lived realities. The results demonstrate that female- headed single-parent households do not, in themselves, represent a process of

women's emancipation. In many cases, this arrangement reflects an expansion of the responsibilities assigned to women, unaccompanied by a corresponding redistribution of caregiving duties among men, the State, and society. The findings also highlight that female headship of a household cannot be understood as a natural condition, but rather as an expression of the interplay between patriarchy, capitalism, inadequate social protection policies, and the persistent failure of fathers to assume responsibility for caregiving and family provision. The study concludes that the rise in female-headed single-parent households did not stem from a free and autonomous choice, but rather reflects inequalities generated by capitalist society, intertwined with patriarchal relations.