Os desenhos do meu corpo: narrativas sobre o processo de construção da imagem corporal de adolescentes negras da Comunidade Quilombola do Poço em Antônio Cardoso - BA

Abstract

By considering the body as a unique way of being in the world—shaped by biological, affective, and social dimensions—body image is understood as an identity-based and multifactorial phenomenon. In this context, the present research, developed within the Graduate Program in Design, Culture, and Interactivity (PPGMDCI), aims to understand the construction of body image among Black adolescent girls from the Quilombola Community of Poço, in Antônio Cardoso–BA. The study focuses on the subjective, cultural, and affective perceptions that inform their community experiences and selfrepresentations. Acknowledging that the Black female body has been historically stigmatized by racist structures and Eurocentric beauty standards, the research also highlights the emergence of counter-hegemonic narratives, driven by affirmative aesthetic movements that foster positive representations and strengthen processes of self-acceptance and identity affirmation. Methodologically, the study employed a questionnaire and the Human Figure Drawing (HFD) as tools. The data reveal perceptions shaped by stigma, structural racism, exclusionary beauty ideals, and low self-esteem. However, elements of resistance, aesthetic affirmation, and identity empowerment also emerge. Thus, body image is understood as a symbolic territory influenced by affective, social, and historical experiences. The research underscores the importance of nurturing spaces that promote positive representations of Black women’s bodies. Keywords: body image; adolescence; Black girls; quilombo; structural racism.