RESUMO
Objetivos Abordar el significado del noviazgo mediante la teoría de las representaciones sociales. Determinar las convergencias y divergencias de los participantes en torno a los núcleos figurativos de la representación Métodos Aproximación cualitativa interpretativa. En tres colegios diferenciados por estrato, se utilizaron observación, red de asociaciones, entrevista en profundidad y talleres grupales. La triangulación intra estrato, intra género y de totalidad de los participantes, permitió verificar los resultados convergentes y divergentes. Resultados En los tres estratos, el noviazgo hace parte del proyecto de vida centrado en independencia de la familia, éxito laboral y conformación de familia en la vida adulta. El noviazgo no es prioritario y constituye una experiencia de aprendizaje afectivo. La sexualidad coital es concebida como una posibilidad postergable dados los riesgos de embarazo. Las diferencias por estrato, se centraron en los obstáculos o facilidades económicas para realizar las metas. Las diferencias por género se encontraron entre los estratos bajo y alto. Las mujeres de estrato bajo, son más conservadoras, resienten mayor control social y pérdida de independencia. En cambio las del alto, reclaman independencia y critican los modelos tradicionales. Los hombres de estrato bajo, son más tradicionalistas que los de estrato alto y el sufrimiento está ligado a la infidelidad. Discusión Se destaca la responsabilidad en el diseño de políticas sociales que permitan crear y apoyar los caminos que estos jóvenes transiten hacia el logro de sus metas futuras, en especial a los adolescentes del estrato socioeconómico bajo, quienes enfrentan desventajas económicas, sociales y culturales.
Objectives Studying the significance of having a boy/girlfriend by social representations theory. Identifying participants' convergence and difference around a figurative nuclei, focusing on representation by socio-economic strata and gender. Methods A qualitative interpretative approach was adopted. Three schools from different socio-economic strata were used for observation, network association, in-depth interviews and group workshops. Intra-strata, intra-gender and participant triangulation allowed convergent and divergent results to be verified. Results Having a boy/girlfriend (courtship) in all three strata was considered part of adolescents' life projects aimed at becoming independent from the family, successfully obtaining a job and forming a family in future adult life. Thus, having a boy/girlfriend was not a priority and was seen more as an emotional learning experience. Sexuality was seen as something to be postponed due to the risks of pregnancy. Differences by strata focused on economic obstacles to or chances for achieving goals. Gender differences were found between low and high strata. Girls having low economic status were more conservative, resented greater social control and their loss of independence compared to girls from high socioeconomic strata who demanded their independence and criticised traditional models. Boys having low economic status were more traditional than their upper strata counterparts and the suffering involved in having a girlfriend was linked to infidelity. Suffering in having a boy/girlfriend was linked to such relationship breaking up for upper and middle strata. Masculinity regarding having a boy/girlfriend was affirmed in all strata. Discussion Emphasis should be placed on designing social policies helping these young people to achieve their future goals, especially teenagers from lower socioeconomic strata who face economic, social and cultural disadvantages.