En la tierra de Dios y del hombre

by Silvana Paternostro

Es el año 2022, pero la crítica social que hizo la periodista barranquillera Silvana Paternostro en estas páginas hace veinticinco años, sigue perfectamente vigente: las mujeres más poderosas de la ciudad siguen poniendo ese poder al servicio de los hombres. Silvana se preguntaba en los años noventa: ¿por qué lo hacen?, ¿cuáles son sus motivaciones?, ¿en qué se parecen a las otras mujeres que componen las élites latinoamericanas? Para averiguarlo consiguió un contrato de una casa editora en Nueva York y salió con libreta y grabadora en mano por todo el continente. Cuando salió En la tierra de Dios y del hombre causó revuelo. Fue nominado al prestigioso PEN Award. En 1999, la revista Time la nombró una de las voces innovadoras para el milenio, la prensa colombiana sacó la noticia. Cuando salió finalmente traducido al español, El Tiempo le dedicó un editorial titulado «Un libro que sí vale la pena».

Genres: Nonfiction, Latinx, Politics, Latin American

448 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paternostro reveals a male dominated in contemporary Latin American (specifically Columbian) society that I never thought still existed. She reveals disturbing facts like, 80% of women with HIV received it from their husbands--the women were virgins when they married and had never slept with another person. The influence of the culture extends to the U.S. where hymen reconstructive surgeries are readily available in urban cities (yes, even Atlanta) and the revirginification of women is required for women to marry. Although disturbing, this book is so well written and such a good read that I'd recommend it to anyone.

[Katelijne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The topic of machismo and how badly women are treated in Latin culture is very close to my heart as many of my friends here in Ecuador are living this reality of men who cheat regularly and never equate sex with love. It's important to write about these injustices, but the book is terribly repetitive and not well researched. The author makes conclusions without basing them on facts or research. I had to make myself finish it.

[Alicen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good qualitative overview of some of the issues facing women in Latin America related to sexuality, particularly in the area of HIV/AIDS. She really tries to get the story behind the statistics. Recommended for anyone interested in this area.

[Erica Halloun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any woman living in Latin America

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not everything about this book aged well in the 20 years since its publication, both in the terminology and the author's rare implicit biases. However, it's still an insightful look at the sexual culture of Latin America in the late 90s, with I'm sure a lot that is relevant today, and I would still recommend it if you are interested.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit outdated (published in 1999) but an overall interesting and comprehensive look into the sexual landscape of Latin America at the turn of the century during the height of the AIDS epidemic. I enjoyed the combination of memoir, ethnography, and history: it allowed for a personal, intersectional analysis that drew in political, class, and gender differences.

[Maya Heuman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting, but repetitive and also outdated

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just an amazing description here.
Gave me insight into elite life of Colombian cities, and amazingly detailed descriptions, gathered from talks with friends and others, about sexual habits of Colombian elite men. Sex with other men, especially boys, is a significant part of many upper class men's life experiences. Lives of street boys surviving in this way is well described too.
Lots of food for thought here.

Good to read alongside this: Eros in Greece. On the role of man-man sex in Greek society.

One reader says:
"After living in Ecuador for 2 years I still hadn't grasped what was going on in the sexual culture of latin america, especially in young men. I didn't understand their superior mentality. Then I read this book and a lot of what I'd seen started to make sense. The invitations to prostibulos, fathers or relatives taking teenage boys to the brothels for their first sexual encounter."
==================
to Audrey Oct 2012:
Audrey, I was updating my data base of books and came across a note
that says that YOU were the person who introduced me to this book

I had completely forgotten you had anything to do with it.
I read the book [in 2006, according to my goodreads records...] and
was very amazed. Horrified of course too.
I imagine her description of male attitudes towards sex in Colombia
[and more generally in Latin America] is spot-on, and the various
kinds of homosexual relations and how they intersect with power
relations - it all sounds very believable to me. And I don't think I
have ever run into anyone or anything that has spoken of these things.

I lent it to an Australian couple, Gerry Van Klinken, he is a researcher at the institute
i used to work at, because their daughter had married a Colombian
fellow. They are actually anthropologists. Anyway, he looked through
the book but did not think it was on base.
I then realized that very few males [and not all that many women
either] are going to be able to absorb the reality behind this book.
All cultures practice denial of most of what she writes about.

I am very glad to have read it, tho it makes it no easier for me to
accept the reality described...
===========
Audrey replies:
Yes, that was a good book. Glad to have read it, when I was down in Guatemala. I think not everyone is able to understand a gender analysis of society, their own or others',and certainly not at every stage in life. But when one is ready for feminist analysis, I'm glad it's out there!

Glad you're enjoying your reading, especially what I recommend!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general, I liked this book but found it annoying in the way "Women Who Run with the Wolves" was annoying to me, maybe a little more. In "Women Who Run", the author felt the need to throw in words in other languages, and then translate them for you immediately. If there's a direct translation, why not just use it in the first place? Seems like "showing off". It's been a while since I read this one, but I distinctly remember that not only did she do the same, but she threw in a BAD translation of a poster or a graphic brochure title or something. It was a "Spanish-speaker not getting Portuguese" mistake, so I guess I found it doubly annoying. We're not trying to explain the concept of "unheimlich" here... Either throw in a direct translation, or make like Leguizamo and say, "Look it up!" But if you're going to do it, fact-check it (and she's a journalist, so she should have).

[Janet Laminack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in this book. However, I do think it provides a lot of insight into aspects of Latin American culture. I do hope and think some of the things discussed in this book have improved...the book is ten years old.

Even though I was a bit disappointed, I would still recommend it to people interested in Latin America, especially women who are living in Latin America or are involved with a Latino immigrant even in the US. Also, for those who are doing health promotion in Latin America.

[Deysi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good. Being hispanic, I can say that most of it is right. I'm cuban so my latin experience is different than that of someone who is from South America and of course being born in America makes it even more different but my family is still pretty traditionally hispanic. The stories in the book are very interesting. There was a lot of usage of spanish and portuguese words. I understood them but I constantly thought about how different it would be if I read them and didn't understand spanish or portuguese, I think it would have made the book less enjoyable.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, it albeit occasionally rambling and repetitive, journey into the sexual culture of Latin America. Written in the late 1990s, the book feels a bit dated given the author's focus on AIDS*, but the overarching themes about the lack of women's sexual power remain relevant, even today. The chapter on transvestites is riveting in its portrayal of male sexual politics, and highly recommended.

*Not that AIDS shouldn't be a timely topic; I'm referring here to topics that are on the current policy agenda, whether rightly or wrongly.

[Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

After living in Ecuador for 2 years I still hadn't grasped what was going on in the sexual culture of latin america, especially in young men. I didn't understand their superior mentality. Then I read this book and a lot of what I'd seen started to make since. The invitations to prostibulos, fathers or relatives taking teenage boys to the brothels for their first sexual encounter. Very insightful and getting folks to read this will stengthen the fight against AIDS. BOOM

[nancita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a Colombian female journalist but it reads like a story. She takes you through Latin America uncovering how the machista role perpetuates the AIDS epidemic...in many ways you don't expect at all. Truly fascinating and will make you angry and sadden you. Incredibly interesting. I loved this one.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Latin America, and how and why it disproportionately affects women. I learned about the cultural paradoxes that exist around sexuality and gender norms that perpetuate dangerous ideologies that are not consistent with the realities, thus exposing both men and women to contracting HIV/AIDS. A really good and informative read.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite books. It follows the interviews of a journalist with women from all walks of life in Latin America and explores the role of religion and gender in their lives. It is a bit biased, but a real eye-opener to what women all over the world, and especially those in Latin America, experience.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book investigating AIDS and machismo in Latin American culture. She interviews someone from almost every aspect of society (upper class woman, woman in a favela in Rio, a transvestite, etc.). Opened up my eyes to the sexual culture and tendencies of Latin America. Definitely worth reading, although it is a bit out of date (it was written 10 years ago).

[Kathleen Portillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The members of L.I.P.S and I have started a book club and we decided to start off with this book (with a reccomendation from Maria) since we are all Latinas we found we could relate to this book in one way of another.
This book is really good so far and I as I read I find myself nodding in agreement to the things Silvana Paternostro talks about(like the machismo of Hispanic culture).

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn... this book blew me away when I read it, which was quite some time ago. It was interesting to read about the coming-of-age of a well-to-do Columbian woman and see paralells to my own life,to my extended family and to people I have known and worked with - compelling reading!!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting info (especilly being here in Panama) and the author has done a lot of through research. I just wish there had been less repetition. The book could have been shortened if it had only said something once.

[Dale Stonehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps a bit sensationalistic, but to those never exposed to the abuse of Latina women implicitly endorsed by the Roman church, a shock to the senses might be in order. I cannot recommend a book any higher than this one.

[Yahaira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every few years I read this book. I'm sure some things have changed since I first picked it up, but the male dominated culture is so ingrained I don't think that much has changed. I push this book on any woman I know. It's too bad it's no longer in print.

[Trudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First rate research and the reading is never boring. Quite the opposite. I didn't give it 5 stars because sometimes it does get repetitive. However, I strongly recommend it. It gives an in-depth view of Latin America, from above as well as below.

[leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been so chilled by a book. Once you pick it up, you will have to tear yourself away - and the reading is anything but pleasant.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting feminist opinion about the messed up culture of sex in latin america and how thats tied to the oppressiveness of the church.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

easy to read with a lot of informative info about HIV/AIDS, MSM, and the dynamic of gender relations in South America.

[Max ruiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

good novel/journalism, insightful and awareness provoking over a feminist journey through south america.

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

PHENOMENAL! So much to learn from this book...

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Separation of church and state is a good thing

[Gina Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.