Don Kulick carried out a detailed
study in 1997 of transvestites in Brazil. Kulick's findings were
interesting, as they enforced and revealed a number of cultural
perceptions existing in Latin America towards sexuality and
homosexuality in specific. "the entire conceptual ordering of sexuality
in Latin America differs significantly from North American
world-views," states Anthropologist Sheldon Smith. "It is the person
who is penetrated who is considered maricon, cochon, joto, marica,
frango, or bicha (homosexual). the male lovers, or penetrators, are
considered homens (men) and are not homosexual." ("Latin America in
Transition", p. 432)
"Grandmother, I read the most
interesting observation of Latino perceptions of homosexuality" I said
earlier this evening. "Well, what was it?" "Well, according to this one
author, Latin Americans tend to label only the receiver of homosexual
sex as pato and the giver of sex as the macho, and not necessarily gay." With a confused look on her face she responded, "but he isn't gay." Point proven.
Interestingly enough, a gay person is often referred to as someone who likes to "cogerlo por el culo"
or "take up the ass" and not necessarily give. A few months ago when an
employee of mine jokingly referred to two other obviously straight
employees as a homosexual couple, the two humorously made accusations
over who exactly was receiving and who was giving. "Oh no, I'm not the
one who gets it up the ass. It's him," as they chuckle.
It was interesting to hear a
heterosexual friend of mine (quite heterosexual I might add, according
to his frequent womanizing escapades) say something along the lines of,
"Today I saw this transvestite. Man was he hot. I swear, with a couple
of beers I would have taken him home."
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