Lésbicas envelhecem: velhice e homoafetividade feminina nos contos de Natália Borges Polesso.

Abstract

Literature plays an active role in influencing and shaping social perceptions and representations. From this perspective, lesbian literature, particularly when written by women, plays a crucial role in representing and identifying lesbian women, challenging social control over their sexuality and bodies. Denying this importance perpetuates power patterns that marginalize these experiences. Despite having been silenced for a time, lesbian literature has gained recognition in traditional spaces, such as literary awards. Thus, with the desire to contribute to the debate and growth of LGBTQ+ literature, the present study has established its main objective as comprehending how lesbian identity is portrayed in the short stories “Vó, a senhora é lésbica?” and “Marília acorda”, authored by Natalia Borges Polesso. Our aim is to analyze the representation of the theme of homoaffection in old age and the aging of the female body within the fictional context, and how this relates to societal conceptions and stereotypes of lesbianism and aging. We have adopted an exploratory-descriptive research methodology, of a basic nature, with a qualitative approach, based on bibliographic technical procedures. The study is grounded in theories published by Woolf (2014), Gilbert & Gubar (2000), Facco (2003), Bailey (1999), Beauvoir (2018), Bosi (1994), Xavier (2007), among others. In summary, we perceive that the author sought to authentically represent the lesbian experience by choosing to portray elderly lesbians in everyday situations. Natalia Borges Polesso breaks stereotypes and offers a hopeful perspective for readers seeking representation in literature.