MECHANISMS OF RELIGIOUS DIFFERENTIATION: SELF-EXCLUSION AS A GENDERED IDENTITY STRATEGY IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The study aims to identify the meanings attributed to expressions related to religion in physical education classes, in order to understand the incidence of specific codes and mechanisms of exclusion or self-exclusion. The study is anchored in ethnomethodological approaches and its qualitative approach, using the following data collection instruments: participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. Evidence indicates that self-exclusion occurs primarily among females. The results show that the female religious group embraces self-exclusion as an active identity project rather than merely passive submission. Self-exclusion is naturally accepted by teachers, demonstrating little critical reflection on the conflict between religious freedom and compliance with the mandatory curriculum.