Research reveals the plight of "invisible" Brazilians: an ethnography of people without documents

Who are these undocumented individuals? Why do they lack documentation? What do they need it for? What significance do they attribute to documentation? For nearly three years, Fernanda da Escóssia, a former doctoral student in History, Politics, and Cultural Assets at the Escola de Ciências Sociais (FGV CPDOC), closely followed a little-known reality for Brazilians: the lives of people who do not even possess their first identity document, the birth certificate. 

This research represents a significant contribution to understanding a segment of the Brazilian population that, paradoxically, exists yet remains invisible to the eyes of the state and society. The results of this ethnographic immersion culminated in the thesis "Invisible: An ethnography of undocumented Brazilians." 

The reality of the "invisible"
 

The research reveals a parallel Brazil inhabited by individuals living on the fringes of their most basic rights. "When I asked 'who are you when you don't have documents?', they said: 'I am a person who does not exist', 'I am a dog', 'I am a zero to the left,'" relates Fernanda. This self-description highlights how the lack of documentation profoundly affects these individuals' self-perception, who see themselves as "non-people." 

Without a birth certificate, identity card, CPF, driver's license, or passport, these Brazilians face systematic exclusion from what the researcher calls the "world of rights." Most of them are individuals in situations of social vulnerability or extreme social vulnerability. 

The "counter syndrome"

One of the most impactful findings of the research was discovering what Fernanda termed the "counter syndrome." Contrary to what one might imagine, these individuals are not passive regarding their situation. By retracing their trajectories, the researcher found that many had attempted to obtain the necessary documentation. 

"The undocumented person goes to a state counter and is told: 'not here,' 'not my job,' 'come back later,'" explains Fernanda. The result is a vicious cycle in which these individuals spend not just days, weeks, or months, but years in search of documentation, with the state providing neither welcoming nor dignified assistance. 

Methodology and field research 

To develop the study, Fernanda followed a public, free service in Rio de Janeiro that operates from a bus specialized in issuing birth certificates. This close proximity to the field allowed the researcher to interact directly with undocumented Brazilians and understand the meanings they attribute to documentation. 

Impact and repercussion 

The relevance of the research transcended the academic environment. The issue of documentation for undocumented Brazilians was chosen as the essay topic for the ENEM in 2021, inspired a series on the "Fantástico" program of TV Globo, and generated several other reports in the national media. 

"I take pride in having helped bring this documentation issue closer to the everyday lives of Brazilians," emphasizes the researcher, underscoring the importance of giving visibility to this historically neglected population. 

Need for public policies

The defended thesis highlights the fundamental role of documentation as a constitutive element of citizenship and points to the urgent need for more comprehensive and effective public policies. The study demonstrates that facilitating Brazilians' access to documentation is not merely a bureaucratic issue but a matter of human rights and social inclusion. 

By giving voice to these "invisible" individuals, the academic work developed at FGV CPDOC not only documents a concerning social reality but also provides support for formulating more inclusive and effective public policies. 

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Fernanda's research was published by Editora FGV in 2021. The book can be found by clicking here.