Gênero, performance e carnaval: uma análise do Bloco das Virgens de Cajazeiras, Paraíba (1994 a 2017).

Abstract

This paper analyzes the Carnival event known as "Bloco das Virgens" (Bloco das Virgens), which took place in the city of Cajazeiras, Paraíba, from 1994 to 2017. The research aims to understand how this cultural practice presents itself as a space of identity contestation and fluidity, in light of Queer theory. Through the analysis of audiovisual, oral, and documentary sources, such as interviews, videos, and reports, the study investigates the performative elements of gender and identity present in the bloco, highlighting its role as a symbolic space of resistance and critique of hegemonic and heteronormative norms. Based on authors such as Judith Butler, Richard Miskolci, Stuart Hall, Foucault, and Simone de Beauvoir, this paper proposes a reflection on Carnival as a popular language capable of subverting normative logics and promoting other possibilities for identity. The study therefore aims to broaden the debate on the relationship between culture, politics, and subjectivity in the Paraíba backlands, highlighting dissident gender expressions and their importance in building a more plural and inclusive society.