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GENDER IDENTITIES IN ANDEAN SOCIETY

ABSTRACT

There is a common misconception surrounding the female healer that is the Bruja in Latin America. These

women are ostracized from society, and live with criticism and misappropriation. They are seen as evil beings

in constant search of ill-practice. Growing up in an environment that frequents the presence of metaphysical

and alternative therapy, I have had the pleasure of personally meeting and receiving therapy from a Bruja.

Never once had I seen or felt the presence of negative practice or intention from her. Peru is a country known

for the continuous practice of indigenous healing, part of this being Shamanism and Brujeria. Upon arriving in

Peru, I immediately noticed a genuine fear and discomfort in people when Brujas became the topic of

discussion, but a sense of pride and safety with a Shaman. In my research, I wanted to further explore this

false perception and identify the difference in societal viewpoints between the male Shaman and the female

Bruja figures, as well as identify instances throughout Peruvian history that have contributed to this distorted

female gender identity. I explore the root of female gender roles in Peru with the Inca culture, and discuss the

empowering effect of the Inca dualistic religion. I then move further along in history to the male-dominated

Spanish conquest, also the beginning of systematic oppression towards women. From there, I relate how

colonization has effected contemporary Peruvian society using the examples of the viewpoint on Brujeria vs

Shamanism, and how Machismo culture distorts the everyday life of the Latin American female.

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