The overarching cult of the “family” in contemporary lower classes in Brazil

In the wake of recent investments on right-wing populism in Brazil and on the notion of person involved in its acceptance and diffusion, I examine the "family" value as an axis of a "conservative" representation of the hegemonic social order in “lower classes”. This "family" encompasses gender and sexuality, and is affirmed by a system of attitudes based on "respect" and "authority". In the current political context, it is reaffirmed as an explicit revolt against the modern model of gender and sexuality autonomy in relation to the family - and its broader moral implications. I seek to discuss the meaning of this combined and apparently contradictory reiteration of the hierarchical model and the "nuclear family" in contemporary lower classes (against the extended family).

Keywords:
family; religion; lower classes; populism; personhood