Publication: "If it's already tough, imagine for me...": A Qualitative Perspective on Youth Out of School and Out of Work in Brazil
Date
2018-03
ISSN
Published
2018-03
Author(s)
Machado, Ana Luiza
Muller, Miriam
Abstract
Drawing on in-depth interviews with
young women and men in rural and urban Brazil, this
qualitative research explores gender dimensions in the
causes and consequences of being "out of work and out
of school." A key conclusion from this research is that
this term (or the Portuguese: "nem-nem") does not
translate well the complex realities of this highly
heterogeneous group. The paper develops inductively from the
data a typology of these youth, who face different barriers
along their trajectories: a) barriers to building
aspirations and internal motivation to return to school or
work, b) barriers to action, and c) external barriers.
Participants' position along this spectrum is shaped by
social context and gender norms that frame youth's
trajectories and envisioned futures. These observed patterns
are particularly strong in rural areas, where youth perceive
fewer quality economic opportunities and stronger division
of gender roles within the household and in farming
activities, which keeps young women in lower paid or unpaid
roles. Participants who have successful trajectories to
technical schools, universities, or formal work demonstrate
strong resilience, which seems to be built on their
relationships with their families, peers, partners, and role models.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Machado, Ana Luiza; Muller, Miriam. 2018. "If it's already tough, imagine for me...": A Qualitative Perspective on Youth Out of School and Out of Work in Brazil. Policy Research Working Paper;No. 8358. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/29424 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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