The Travel Chica

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Are the Stereotypes about Porteñas True?

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A few weeks ago, I learned a stereotype in Buenos Aires that women cannot drive when I got in my first taxi accident.  (I think this may be a stereotype around the world.)

This reminded me of something funny I read several months ago.

When I first arrived in Buenos Aires, I grabbed some of the tourist pamphlets at my hostel. I wasn’t expecting to find much of interest, since I have already been here before and knew of the main tourist attractions.

Then I flipped to a page titled “100% Porteña.  How is the Argentinean Woman Like.”

Note the funny English translation.

This could be interesting.

I was surprised to read a list of stereotypes of women from Buenos Aires.  And NOT good stereotypes.  But this booklet is FROM Buenos Aires.

Does this mean the stereotypes are true?

My Favorite Offensive/ Amusing Stereotypes of Porteñas

She is always thinking about her external image.  She is always on a diet.

She can spend the whole day obsessing over a man.

She is jealous of all her friends and family.

She doesn’t like to cook.  But since she knows men like to eat, she seduces a man with food.  Once she achieves her goal, she orders delivery and suggests eating out.

Just to prove I am not making this up…

Photo of portena description

Was this written by an Argentine?

This stereotype seems to be very well-known in Buenos Aires.  If you ask any man living here (expat or native) about it, he will probably laugh and nod.

There is some truth to most stereotypes.

I have met Porteñas who do no seem to fit this stereotype, at least not to this extreme.  However, I have also heard men talk about girls they have dated that fit this stereotype perfectly.

Do you think this was written by a woman?

What other funny stereotypes of women have you heard from around the world?

Comments

  2. Argentineans says argentinean women are “histerical”, which sometimes can be an explanation of any obsessive behavior or an excuse for any over reaction, especially anger. I’m struggling this stereotypes, but everyone in Buenos Aires seems committed to reinforcing it.
    Flavio recently posted..Sainetes consulares

  3. The one about the woman not wanting to cook but wants a man so she cooks is funny yet I know a lot of people who fit that description. I think people in general just stereotype other.

  4. Oh God. I’d love to say that this leaflet was most definitely written by a man, and a chauvinist pig at that. However, it pains me to say that I have met women (some even close friends) who meet some of the criteria.

    I re read your post and realised that I’m always on a diet too (or try to) so that part is true :)

    Or maybe the translator didn’t do a very good job?
    Ana recently posted..The English pub

  7. Only a man could have written such a stereotypically sexist article. A woman on the other hand would stress all the strengths that women have rather than their perceived weaknesses.

    • I found it amazing that such a stereotypically sexist article was actually in a booklet made for tourists.

      Although the majority of the article was negative, there was one good thing. It said the portena has very close friendships with her girlfriends… despite being jealous and competitive I guess.
      The Travel Chica recently posted..Russian Cocaine in Buenos Aires?

  8. I think it is funny a man will not ask directions but, give them a Tom Tom and they will follow it down a dead end road even if they know how to get there.

  9. @Flavio I didn’t know the loud, obsessive, over reacting woman was a Porteña stereotype! Maybe it was a strong combination of two: “She can spend all day obsessing over a man”, and “She is jealous of all friends and family [and boyfriend]”. Lucky you!!

    @Stephanie In TX they say women from Dallas have plastic surgery done everywhere, bleached and teased hair, tons of make up and jewelry. Women from Ft. Worth, are supposed to be country girls, dressed in cowboy boots and hats every day. As most stereotypes, there is certain truth to them, but it is not the general rule.

    I am glad most travelers are open minded and do not get hung up on stereotypes. Pretty funny, yet dangerous article.

  10. I think that every place has its own stereotypes! Even when my husband and I volunteer, when there are multiple jobs to do then I am usually given the more stereotypically feminine jobs (cleaning, cooking, gardening) while he is usually given the more stereotypically masculine jobs (painting, carpentry, installing drywall). However, we usually don’t mind too much because those are the jobs that we each usually prefer doing, if given the choice! And thus the stereotypes continue, haha.
    Danalynn recently posted..Siestas on the Camino de Santiago

  13. I don’t know about Argentina, but I once heard an English 10 year old boy scold his mother for what she was wearing – “go straight back upstairs and get changed out of that hideous dress, you look a fright!!” Maybe he wrote that article!!!
    John in France recently posted..Lisbon – Arrival in Portugal

  21. I definitely think there are all kinds of stereotypes around the world and we could probably say a lot about women in general that we would be horrified to hear but, deep down, we know it’s true. Like, us women are constantly reminded that we’re part of a sisterhood and should join together to unite but we all know that every single one of us is capable of that cattiness and bitchiness that some of us find easier to hide than others.

    That sounds like a funny article and, while it’s clearly an exaggeration of some form of truth, hopefully Argentine women take it with a grain of salt and know that it’s not them 100% but maybe there’s a pinch of them in one or two of those facts. (I’m only guessing as I haven’t been to Argentina before.)
    Ceri recently posted..The So-Called ‘Gap Year’

  22. Hey! I’ve just read yor artcle, I’m from Argentina and I’m really surprised to read that! I didnt know there were pamphlets with this kind of infomation! LOL

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