Matemática construída pelas mãos de artesãs: contextos e sentidos

Abstract

This research seeks to understand the meanings of the mathematical knowledge constructed by artisans of bio-jewelry, residents of a rural settlement located in the city of Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil. For the development of the study, we propose to understand the concept of meaning, to comprehend mathematics as a social construction and to describe the meanings attributed to mathematics by the artisans of bio-jewelry. The present investigation, of qualitative nature, is a field study that consists in a proposal of exploratory and descriptive nature. We have as theoretical reference the approach of the cultural-historical method, which understands human formation through culture and historically built social relations. The theoretical assumptions are supported mainly on the ideas of Vygotsky (2001), Leontiev (2004) and Skovsmose (2013), with contributions from Góes (2006), Smolka (2009), Pino (2005) and Moura (2011). In data collection we used as instruments the interview, guided by a semi-structured script, and the photographic recording. Four craftswomen participated in the interview, who contributed through their speeches to unveil the meanings. The production and analysis of the data followed the content analysis proposed by Bardin (1977) and allowed the establishment of categories, defined a posteriori, which emerged as Aspects and Dimension of Mathematical Content, Aspects and Dimension of Work, and Aspects and Dimension of Critical and Emancipatory Training. The results show an implicit mathematical knowledge in the making of bio-jewelry that has deep roots in the culture in which the artisans are inserted, in their daily lives and in their individual and social experiences. This result can be understood in the relationship of meaning that arises spontaneously between mathematics and the context in which the art present in the making of bio-jewelry is produced, being a generator element of work and social emancipation.