consumo e seus desdobramentos sociais entre os jovens homossexuais no Recife

Abstract

The research raises questions about the meanings and symbologies existing in the choices and the act of consumption. Given this, it highlights the influences that consumption can have on the subjects' sociability. Consequently, the intention of the research is to better understand the relationship between consumption and sociability. The group chosen for the analysis was the male homosexuals in Recife. It is a qualitative research that developed a methodology around the junction of bibliographic review and empirical research. The empirical part required an ethnographic approach, counting on participant observation in a place of homosexual sociability and with the use of semistructured interviews. The intention was to give the subjects a voice to talk about their meanings and social experiences. It was possible to observe the importance of consumption for the construction of identity, since the image is an important factor for many homosexuals. There is a use of consumption for the reference the distinction through the status that products and services can add the image of these people. Therefore, it explored and analyzed the meanings that may lie behind established consumption patterns. This contributed to the perception of the contribution that consumption can help the entrance in a social group within the diverse group of homosexuals and in sociability with individuals in general. The research also brought to light the importance of places of leisure focused on the homosexual community and emphasized specific practices that are known in this population, but in which are diversified by the experience of each individual of the small group interviewed.