Pandemic, social policies and emotions in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires

Abstract

The Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires is one of the poorest areas of Argentina. In this area is located La Matanza, the largest geographic municipality with the largest population and greatest vulnerability, as indicated by data from a pre-pandemic investigation. In March 2020, in Argentina the "social, preventive and mandatory isolation" was declared in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant an increase in poverty and social assistance. In this context, an online survey study was carried out (in four waves: April, May, June and September/October) in order to ascertain the changes in the poverty situation of the population of La Matanza among the people receiving a social benefit, and related emotions around the pandemic and their own situation of vulnerability. For this, the exposition of the article will be: a) a review of the social and economic situation of the territory in question pre-pandemic; b) development of the theoretical perspective regarding social policies to address poverty in connection with emotions, considering social interventions that construct meanings, elaborate perceptions, and are located in the performativity of the aforementioned policies; c) development of the methodological aspects of research and analysis of quantitative information, taking into account the population that receives a social program and the emotions that emerge in relation to the pandemic. In this way, this chapter aims to make a substantial contribution to understanding the impact on the sensitivities of the recipients of the social interventions implemented in the context of a pandemic.