Abstract

CARRASCO G, Ana María  and  GAVILAN VEGA, Vivian. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE BODY, SEX AND GENDER IN AYMARA COMMUNITIES OF NORTHERN CHILE. Chungará (Arica) [online]. 2009, vol.41, n.1, pp. 83-100. ISSN 0717-7356.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-73562009000100006.

The main purpose of this paper is to present the preliminary results of a study of the social representations created by the Aymara of Northern Chile with respect to the body sexuality and reproduction. This article is an approach to identify the categories of sexual differentiation that allow actors to lay the foundation for gender relations. We inquire into two spheres of Aymara social life: religious practices and narratives about the body, gender and sexuality. We consider two approaches to trace symbolic associations and meaningful content which could allow an understanding of sexual differences, and bring an awareness to how the representations of the body, sex and gender are related to the ethnic and gender identities of this social group.

Keywords : Aymara; body; sex, and gender representations; sexuality; sexual differences; ethnic and gender identities.