“PROFESSOR, ARE YOU CHEATING ON US?” MONOGAMY OF AFFECTIONS IN THE CLASSROOM HORIZON FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BELL HOOKS’ CONFESSIONAL PEDAGOGY

Abstract

Human relationships, in any field of social life, are permeated by feelings, which constitute an essential substrate of interactions. In the educational context, the dynamics between students and teachers, shaped over the years of academic career and teaching practice, influence daily decisions and pedagogical processes. This unprecedented study is anchored in Bell Hooks' confessional pedagogy, as presented in the work “Teaching to Transgress” (2017), to explore how intraschool affective relationships contribute to the construction of a more authentic and humane teaching space. The research investigates the concept of “monogamy of affections”, a paradigm that emerges in the relationships between teachers and students, challenging the plurality and horizontality of interactions in the school environment. The guiding question is: In what way can Bell Hooks' confessional pedagogy contribute to the understanding and redefinition of affective relationships in the school space, considering the concept of “monogamy of affections”? The methodology adopted uses a qualitative approach based on Minayo (2016), which explores social relationships in their complexity, allowing for an in-depth analysis of affective experiences in the school context, on Gil (1999), which guides the construction of a descriptive and bibliographical study, and on Weber (2006), which supports a comprehensive analysis focusing on the meanings attributed by subjects to affective relationships in school, considering the cultural and subjective dimensions involved. The research highlights the relevance of considering the affective dimensions in pedagogical practices, proposing confessional pedagogy as a way to resignify relationships in the classroom. By breaking with the “monogamy of affections,” it is possible to build more plural and democratic educational spaces that favor the emotional and academic growth of all those involved.