<i>Habitus</i> of Masculinity in Chilean Miners: Efficiency, Control, and Consumption of the Bodies

From a gender perspective, the persistence of the <i>habitus</i> of masculinity in Chilean male miners in their family relationships, relationships with their partners, sexuality, and work was analyzed, delving into a construction that drives them toward the satisfaction of desires and c...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jimena Silva Segovia, Paulina Salinas Meruane, Estefany Castillo Ravanal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/3/119
Description
Summary:From a gender perspective, the persistence of the <i>habitus</i> of masculinity in Chilean male miners in their family relationships, relationships with their partners, sexuality, and work was analyzed, delving into a construction that drives them toward the satisfaction of desires and consumption. The discourses of 13 workers between 25 and 62 years old were obtained through individual and group interviews. The findings constitute an axis of the research Fondecyt 1180079 carried out in Antofagasta, the region with the highest mining production in Chile and the third largest in the world. The conclusions reveal notions of bodily <i>habitus</i>, mediated by gender hierarchies, where binary masculinity is accentuated, reproducing the extractive logic of the industry in the workers themselves. Men recognize a self-demand between fulfilling the mandate of economic provider vs. a relentless disciplining of male bodies in favor of efficiency, control, and exacerbated consumption, which underlies the industry.
ISSN:2076-0760