Contributions of a “<i>Brazilianized</i>” Radical Behaviorist Theory of Subjectivity to the Feminist Debate on Women
An essentialist view of gender and an individualistic concept of subjectivity have distanced psychological theories from emancipatory feminist projects. In Brazil, similar to some other psychological orientations, the behavior-analytic field has sought an interface with feminism. The anti-essentiali...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/11/641 |
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| author | Carolina Laurenti |
| author_facet | Carolina Laurenti |
| author_sort | Carolina Laurenti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An essentialist view of gender and an individualistic concept of subjectivity have distanced psychological theories from emancipatory feminist projects. In Brazil, similar to some other psychological orientations, the behavior-analytic field has sought an interface with feminism. The anti-essentialist vein of radical behaviorism underpins the early movement toward feminism. This essay aims to expand the area of contact with feminism through a theoretical proposal for understanding women’s subjectivity inspired by Brazilian behavior-analytic literature. From a contextualized, multidimensional, pluralized, and politicized view of subjectivity, women’s subjectivation is forged in a tripartite complex of body, person, and “self”, whose relative unity is susceptible to changes and conflicts. In a patriarchal, racist, and cis-heteronormative society, such as the Brazilian one, subjectivation is also an oppressive process. Nevertheless, the essay demonstrates that women’s subjectivation can be a process of emancipatory liberation. This possibility is glimpsed within a virtuous dialectical circuit between disruptive verbal communities (uncommitted to institutional, hierarchical, and oppressive social control) and subversive subjectivities. Thus, behavior-analytic psychology has theoretical tools to situate the process of women’s subjectivation not as a locus of depoliticization but as a crucial ally in constructing a more equitable and just society, as envisioned by feminism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:27:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-798612016a254056ae33611b433c27f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:27:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-798612016a254056ae33611b433c27f32023-11-24T15:06:32ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602023-11-01121164110.3390/socsci12110641Contributions of a “<i>Brazilianized</i>” Radical Behaviorist Theory of Subjectivity to the Feminist Debate on WomenCarolina Laurenti0Department of Psychology, State University of Maringá, Maringá 87020-900, BrazilAn essentialist view of gender and an individualistic concept of subjectivity have distanced psychological theories from emancipatory feminist projects. In Brazil, similar to some other psychological orientations, the behavior-analytic field has sought an interface with feminism. The anti-essentialist vein of radical behaviorism underpins the early movement toward feminism. This essay aims to expand the area of contact with feminism through a theoretical proposal for understanding women’s subjectivity inspired by Brazilian behavior-analytic literature. From a contextualized, multidimensional, pluralized, and politicized view of subjectivity, women’s subjectivation is forged in a tripartite complex of body, person, and “self”, whose relative unity is susceptible to changes and conflicts. In a patriarchal, racist, and cis-heteronormative society, such as the Brazilian one, subjectivation is also an oppressive process. Nevertheless, the essay demonstrates that women’s subjectivation can be a process of emancipatory liberation. This possibility is glimpsed within a virtuous dialectical circuit between disruptive verbal communities (uncommitted to institutional, hierarchical, and oppressive social control) and subversive subjectivities. Thus, behavior-analytic psychology has theoretical tools to situate the process of women’s subjectivation not as a locus of depoliticization but as a crucial ally in constructing a more equitable and just society, as envisioned by feminism.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/11/641subjectivitygenderequitypsychologyfeminismradical behaviorism |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Laurenti Contributions of a “<i>Brazilianized</i>” Radical Behaviorist Theory of Subjectivity to the Feminist Debate on Women Social Sciences subjectivity gender equity psychology feminism radical behaviorism |
| title | Contributions of a “<i>Brazilianized</i>” Radical Behaviorist Theory of Subjectivity to the Feminist Debate on Women |
| title_full | Contributions of a “<i>Brazilianized</i>” Radical Behaviorist Theory of Subjectivity to the Feminist Debate on Women |
| title_fullStr | Contributions of a “<i>Brazilianized</i>” Radical Behaviorist Theory of Subjectivity to the Feminist Debate on Women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contributions of a “<i>Brazilianized</i>” Radical Behaviorist Theory of Subjectivity to the Feminist Debate on Women |
| title_short | Contributions of a “<i>Brazilianized</i>” Radical Behaviorist Theory of Subjectivity to the Feminist Debate on Women |
| title_sort | contributions of a i brazilianized i radical behaviorist theory of subjectivity to the feminist debate on women |
| topic | subjectivity gender equity psychology feminism radical behaviorism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/11/641 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carolinalaurenti contributionsofaibrazilianizediradicalbehavioristtheoryofsubjectivitytothefeministdebateonwomen |