Men Fermented And Squeezed. Psychosocial Risks In Informal Jobs And Sustainable Economies: From Tepache In Mexico And Guarapo In Colombia.

Abstract

The socialization of men involves the internalization of gender mandates to build masculine identity, with which they demonstrate strength, ability to provide, and risk management. Work represents one of the means for them to comply with social gender prescriptions, regardless of the conditions of the activity and the workspace. Many men generate their economic resources from informal entrepreneurship, where they face a series of dangers that threaten their physical and mental health; such is the case of the producers and sellers of tepache, in Mexico, and guarapo, in Colombia, where the preparation of these ancestral drinks represents their daily sustenance and a sustainable economic practice, but places them on the margins of vulnerability. This document presents a qualitative investigation, where through structured interviews the ailments of a group of male tepache and guarapo producers in informal settings and their connection with the economic context are explored. The results indicate that the sale of the drink gives them the security to comply with the mandate of the supplier, regardless of the risks to which they are exposed given that they consider that the male body is strong and resistant. The need to carry out public policies aimed at caring for informal workers and raising awareness among men regarding health care is concluded.