Um toque de amor ao corpo morto: o sentido e o significado do trabalho para tanatopraxistas e necromaquiadores.

Abstract

The thanatopraxist and the necromakeup artist are considered funerary agents, whose attributions are related to the preparation of cadavers in order to delay the effects of putrefaction and make the aesthetics of the dead body as pleasant as possible. The objective of this research study is to investigate the sense and meaning of the work process for thanatopraxists and necromakeup artists. It is an exploratory research, of a qualitative nature, which was carried out with 13 thanatopraxists From the speeches of the participants it was possible to construct five thematic categories, namely: 1) Perception of death; 2) Perception of being-thanatopraxist; 3) Getting excited about the profession; 4) Labor difficulties and 5) Learning from the profession. From the analysis of the data, it was evident that thanatopraxists and necro-makeup artists attribute meaning and meaning to their work, even in the face of experiences of suffering, discrimination and stigma, which is possible through defensive strategies and respect for the dead and the living. This process allows them to remain engaged and feel recognized, a fundamental aspect for mental health.