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Beyond Sex Roles: Latino / Non-Latino Differences in Lifecourse Homosexual Behaviors and Sex Role Preferences
Unformatted Document Text:  Beyond Sex Roles: Latino / Non-Latino Differences in Lifecourse Homosexual Behaviors and Sex Role Preferences INTRODUCTION Machismo and the Activo/Pasivo Phenomenon Machismo mandates that Latin American men be sexually aggressive and dominate sexual encounters with women (Carrier 1976). Although machismo prescribes that Latin American men be dominant in opposite-sex encounters, it does not preclude homosexual encounters as viable components to men’s overall sexual experiences. Within this framework, to “be a man” necessitates that one is the insertive partner in sexual intercourse, regardless of the gender of one’s sexual partner(s) (Almaguer 1991). Being the insertive partner, or activo (active), in sexual encounters is the definitive behavior for masculinity, even if men are engaging in sex with other men. On the other hand, being receptive, or pasivo (passive), relegates a man who is the receptive partner in anal intercourse with another man to the status of a woman. Consequent to the inextricable link between gender and sexual role, men who have sex with men (MSM) tend to have lifecourse preferences for insertive (activo) or receptive (pasivo) sex, but not both (Almaguer 1991; Carrier 1989). Quasi-Institutionalized Nature of Homosexuality Unlike in North America, however, homosexuality takes on somewhat of an institutionalized nature whereby feminine males in Latin America maintain an important status. Pre-pubescent boys are often sexually seduced to engage in passive anal intercourse with older, stronger males (Carrier 1989; Parker 1999; Schifter 2000). Frequently, this behavior is perpetrated by trusted older adults (Almaguer 1991; Carrier 1976, 1989). In Brazil, pre-pubescent and pubescent boys often take turns anally penetrating each other in games (Parker 1999). DeMoya and García (1999) assert that homosexual relations in the Dominican Republic take on a pedarastic form similar to that of ancient Greece. Though many of the age discrepant relationships that occur between males in Latin America are non-consensual —similar to the United States (Browning and Laumann 2001)—Latin American men have been shown to openly reflect upon pleasure gained by these experiences (Girman 2002; Schifter 2000). In addition to adult men engaging in sexual relations with boys, scholars discuss the institutionalized nature of homosexual encounters for men who ascribe to machismo masculinity. In Peru, Cáceres (2002) has documented the legitimization of homosexual relations for the insertive male partner 1

Authors: Jeffries, William.
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Beyond Sex Roles: Latino / Non-Latino Differences in Lifecourse
Homosexual Behaviors and Sex Role Preferences
INTRODUCTION
Machismo and the Activo/Pasivo Phenomenon
Machismo mandates that Latin American men be sexually aggressive and dominate sexual
encounters with women (Carrier 1976). Although machismo prescribes that Latin American men be
dominant in opposite-sex encounters, it does not preclude homosexual encounters as viable components
to men’s overall sexual experiences. Within this framework, to “be a man” necessitates that one is the
insertive partner in sexual intercourse, regardless of the gender of one’s sexual partner(s) (Almaguer
1991). Being the insertive partner, or activo (active), in sexual encounters is the definitive behavior for
masculinity, even if men are engaging in sex with other men. On the other hand, being receptive, or
pasivo (passive), relegates a man who is the receptive partner in anal intercourse with another man to the
status of a woman. Consequent to the inextricable link between gender and sexual role, men who have
sex with men (MSM) tend to have lifecourse preferences for insertive (activo) or receptive (pasivo) sex,
but not both (Almaguer 1991; Carrier 1989).
Quasi-Institutionalized Nature of Homosexuality
Unlike in North America, however, homosexuality takes on somewhat of an institutionalized
nature whereby feminine males in Latin America maintain an important status. Pre-pubescent boys are
often sexually seduced to engage in passive anal intercourse with older, stronger males (Carrier 1989;
Parker 1999; Schifter 2000). Frequently, this behavior is perpetrated by trusted older adults (Almaguer
1991; Carrier 1976, 1989). In Brazil, pre-pubescent and pubescent boys often take turns anally
penetrating each other in games (Parker 1999). DeMoya and García (1999) assert that homosexual
relations in the Dominican Republic take on a pedarastic form similar to that of ancient Greece. Though
many of the age discrepant relationships that occur between males in Latin America are non-consensual
—similar to the United States (Browning and Laumann 2001)—Latin American men have been shown to
openly reflect upon pleasure gained by these experiences (Girman 2002; Schifter 2000).
In addition to adult men engaging in sexual relations with boys, scholars discuss the
institutionalized nature of homosexual encounters for men who ascribe to machismo masculinity. In Peru,
Cáceres (2002) has documented the legitimization of homosexual relations for the insertive male partner
1


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