Gender relations, childhood and social assistance: records about girls taken to the São Vicente de Paulo Orphans’ Asylum (Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, 1904-1930)

Abstract

This article aims to demonstrate that philanthropic actions in favor of poor Brazilian children and youth populations were guided by discourses related to gender and social class relations. Initially, from a quantitative and qualitative analysis, we present a profile of poor girls welcomed between 1904 and 1930 at the São Vicente de Paulo Orphans’ Asylum, the main shelter institution in the state of Santa Catarina (Brazil) for girls. Later, we will describe the activities performed by the girls after leaving the institution. Among the activities performed by them, domestic services, teaching, and religious career stand out.

Keywords:
Childhood; Gender relations; Social assistance; Education