Cuerpo subversivo, norma seductora: un capítulo de historia de la heterosexualidad en Puerto Rico

Abstract

The article investigates the much publicized case of "Emelina Troche," a 23 year-old "woman" whose sexuality became matter of public scrutiny when accused of dishonoring a 17 year-old women. The scandal brought to public attention "Emelina‘s" ambiguous body, which was said to have "both sexes," although her contention was that "she" was a "man" and not a "woman", as everyone who knew her thought. The article analyzes how "Emelina‘s" sexuality becomes intelligible for "herself" as well as for the public, which passionately sought the revelation of her "true" nature, and problematizes the social meanings of the body as pre-social or "natural". It is argued that Troche‘s rebellious anatomy challenges the notions of the body as pre-discursive because it shows how the sexual norm, which is intersected and articulated by gender, not only tailored a heterosexual relationship between "Emelina" and her girl friend but sculpted her body as a masculine one.