“I think that business of being male is foolish”: Education, embroidery, masculinity and productions by Fábio Carvalho

Abstract

Gender relations strongly established by and in economic, cultural and labor sectors contributed to the fact that, in contemporary times, embroidery was associated with the feminine. School and curricular practices also favor a certain distance between masculinity and embroidery. In view of this, we ask: What dialogues can be established between masculinities and art, in a perspective that values ​​embroidery beyond artisanal work? To answer this question, in this article, we theoretically rely on Gender Studies and Masculinity Studies, thinking about them in articulation with Education. We aim to analyze how the gendered aspects of embroidery cross the contemporary artistic production of male artists. For this, structurally, we organize the discussion into two topics. In the first, we discuss the educational and pedagogical aspects of gender learning, emphasizing masculinities. In the second, we present an analysis of two artistic series made by the carioca artist Fábio Carvalho (1965--), namely: Em sendo patente…(2012) and Monarca (2012). Finally, in the considerations, we highlight the pedagogical character of visual artifacts and, based on the works of Fábio Carvalho, we argue about the need to rethink the images offered to children, including those involved in school practices.