Abstract
This study analyzed the life conditions and the disengagement of the new generation of inhabitants of the community of Alto do Moura, in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. Based on Bourdieusian sociology, the research examines the elements that influence a younger generation in that community to take a different course from the traditional artisan work. In addition, we observe the disposition demands that lead these youngsters to seek changes in the inherited condition of ‘artisan.’ The main influential elements identified were the difficulty of generational transmission, the decline in symbolic value, the lack of incentives from the public authorities, the desire for stability in other professions through formal education, and the difficulty of generating income through craftsmanship. As for the new paths observed among the new generation, the study revealed the transition from the condition of ‘artisan’ to owning a business in the community, to a formal specialized technical-professional activity, formal non-specialized, or an informal intermittent professional activity. The article concludes with a reflection on the work outside the condition of ‘artisan’.
Keywords:
Disengagement; Artisan Work; Alto do Moura; Bourdieusian sociology; Generational change.