WORK AND HEALTH OF FEMALE TEACHERS IN THE STATE OF RIO DE JANEIRO: A REFLECTION FROM A MARXIST PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The article analyzes the working conditions and health impacts on female teachers in the State of Rio de Janeiro from a Marxist perspective. The study argues that the precariousness of teaching work is a phenomenon structured by gender and class relations. The methodology involves a qualitative approach, based on bibliographic analysis, in addition to empirical data from the research "Work and Health of Female and Male Teachers in the State of Rio de Janeiro," conducted by LIEPE (Laboratory for Investigations in State, Power, and Education), which highlight the triple workday experienced by these professionals – composed of paid work at school, unpaid domestic work, and family care. Under the theoretical framework of historical materialism, it is argued that the sexual division of labor is fundamental for the reproduction of labor power in capitalism, naturalizing wage devaluation and the poor conditions of the profession, associated with so-called "feminine" skills. The results point to a severe picture of physical and mental illness, including Burnout Syndrome, musculoskeletal disorders, and psychological problems, aggravated by the context of social inequality. It is clear that the health of female teachers is deteriorated by the intersectionality between class exploitation and gender oppression, thus demanding solutions that combat both dimensions.

Keywords: Teaching Work. Women's Health. Gender. Marxism. Rio de Janeiro.