Views on Women in Latin Culture
On the surface, gender roles and attitudes toward Latin women appear simple: A woman's place is in the home, men are in charge and women exist to please them, under the control of their fathers until marriage and of their husbands afterwards. This perception is one big reason why men from the United States who consider the women of their own culture to be overly assertive and self-interested may seek Latina brides. However, beneath the stereotypes lies a more complex reality.
Other People Are Reading
-
Virgins and Whores
-
In many traditional cultures, including that of Latin America, marriage is still very much an economic contract. A woman's value is closely tied to her virginity, so that any man marrying her may feel confident that she will not stray and that his heirs will be descended from his bloodline. Daughters are raised with this ideal in mind, kept close to home and trained in domestic skills and the more subtle art of allowing a man to believe that he is the absolute lord of his castle. Young women who defy this cultural norm pay a heavy price in social disapproval.
"Hot" Latinas
-
The flip side of the pure and virginal image of Latina womanhood is the belief that a smoldering sexuality lies just under its surface- think J-Lo or the party-hearty beach scene of Rio De Janeiro. In a pressure cooker of repression, the vital force of female sexuality is perceived as overwhelmingly powerful when it does emerge. The emphasis placed on satisfying and submitting to the control of a man is in itself an erotically enticing trait for men with a desire to "rule the roost."
-
The Latina Matriarch
-
The vision of Latin women as occupying a narrow, precarious pedestal that is somehow both purer and beneath the role of men is challenged by the reality of women's lives, in which they often need to accomplish difficult and complicated work. The "abuela," or grandmother, who has raised a family and often managed the family's day to day affairs, is accorded much respect within the community. Outwardly, she may defer to her husband or son, while the behind-the-scenes decision making is a different matter.
Stereotypes and Realities
-
This complicated brew of reverence and repression impacts the lives of Latin women and the ways in which they are treated in many ways; the results, of course, vary according to the individual personalities involved and the events that befall them. Latin women who are forced to question the stereotypes of their culture may transcend them with astonishing results.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit latina businesswoman image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
Comments
-
well I definitely agree with the female sexuality perceived as overwhelmingly powerful when it does emerge.
