Territorialidade dos flanelinhas/guardadores de carros: discussões sobre a apropriação do espaço público nos bairros Cidade Alta, Petrópolis e Tirol de Natal-RN

Abstract

Nowadays, the presence of flanelinhas/car keepers in the urban landscape of Brazilian cities is increasingly evident. These subjects appropriated portions of the public space, defining their use and organization, in order to exercise an activity that guarantees them income. They find in this activity a way of subsistence (in self-employment), which takes place within the informal sector of the urban economy. As a consequence of this appropriation of the public space, we have seen the unleashing of various conflicts of a social, economic, political and cultural order. In this sense, this work aims to analyze the territoriality expressed by flanelinhas/car keepers through the appropriation of portions of the public space of the Cidade Alta, Petrópolis and Tirol districts of Natal-RN. This reflection is based on the discussion about the concepts of space, territory and territoriality, among other theoretical elements that support the understanding of the spatial dynamics established by these subjects in the public space. It takes into account the influence and control that the flanelinhas/car keepers have on the appropriate space, the organization that they establish in their territory, as well as the conflicts established between the subjects that work in this activity and the other individuals affected by it. For the development of the research, some theoretical and methodological procedures were carried out, such as: bibliographical review (mainly from Sack (1986), Raffestin (1993), Haesbaert (1997, 1999, 2007), Saquet (2009, 2011, 2015), Valverde (2007), Albagli (2004), Idalino (2012), Cacciamali (1982, 2000), Araújo (2009), Freire (2005) and Fernandes (2005, 2009). Field research (observation and application of structured interviews), documentary research and photographic production. These procedures enabled us to understand that the territoriality of the flanelinhas/car keepers of the Cidade Alta, Petrópolis and Tirol districts of Natal-RN is constituted of materialities and immaterialities that can be perceived from the forms of appropriation, organization, influence and control that these subjects establish Territory.