Male homosexuality and spirit possession in Brazil.

In Afro-Brazilian possession cults in Belém do Pará, male sex roles are divided into two categories: bicha and man, with no term equivalent to the Western category of "homosexual." The paper describes the cults' beliefs, rites, and social organization, then analyzes folk explanations for the presence of many bichas in these groups. It argues that bichas gain social rewards within the cults, and that the structural relationship between homosexuality and the cults arises from their congruent marginality relative to mainstream society.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between male homosexuality and the Afro-Brazilian possession cults in Belém do Parà. After a discussion of the literature follows a description of the cults' beliefs, rites and social organization. Male sex roles are then discussed and the two categories, bicha and man, analyzed. It is noted that there is no term which is equivalent to the western category of "homosexual" in this taxonomic system. After putting forward folk explanations for the presence of many bichas in the cults, an analysis is put forward of the social rewards available to bichas within these cults, and the structural relationship between homosexuality and these regions in terms of their congruent marginality vis-à-vis "normal society."