Dressed Like a Man? Of Language, Bodies and Monsters in the Trial of Enrique/Enriqueta Favez and its Contemporary Accounts.

Authors

  • Juliana Martinez Department of World Languages and Cultures American University

Abstract

In 1823 one of the most scandalous trials of the century took place in Havana, Cuba. Due to the denunciations of a housekeeper, it was discovered that Enrique Favez, a well-known and respected Swiss doctor, was a biological woman. Enrique—now Enriqueta—is immediately accused of the “horrendous and impious conduct” of dressing up as a man, practicing a forbidden profession for women and, worst of all, “the detestable and unspeakable crime of marrying someone from the same sex.” Based on Julio César González Pagés’ historical account of the story in “Por andar vestida de hombre” (2012), I will analyse the role that language plays in the (de/re)construction of Enrique/Enriqueta’s identity. I contend that this text presents a valuable opportunity to look at how language functions as one of the most powerful and violent hetero/cisnormativizing mechanisms, as well as a realm of possibility and affirmation. On the one hand, language is used to construct Enriqueta as a monstrous, deviated and wretched creature; but, on the other hand, language is also what Enrique uses to defend his identity and his love towards the end of his life. Finally I argue that the difficulties we face when recounting his story, point to problems around labelling and to the linguistic and legal ambiguity that still surrounds gender non-conforming individuals.

Author Biography

  • Juliana Martinez, Department of World Languages and Cultures American University

    Juliana Martínez is assistant professor at American University, Washington, DC. She focuses on the intersection of violence and body politics in the Latin-American and US Latino context. Her two main areas of research are: representation of historical violence in twentieth and twenty-first century Latin American cultural production, and gender and sexuality—particularly transgender studies—within the Latin-American and US Latino context.  Professor Martínez is also part of the advisory board of the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies program, and a member of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies (CLALS)

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Published

2017-04-05

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Texts