Catalina de Erauso

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The transatlantic during the colonial period was a time of great change for the Spaniards who were out to conquer everything and the Latin Americans that were being conquered.Each and every person in the society had an ever changing role.The abundance of land,money and opportunities in the new world led to the influx of people ready take chance to make a name for themselves or change their lives all for the glory of Spain.No matter your circumstances in the Old World whether that be economic,social,or cultural you were able to find change in the New World to a certain extent. It was said “in the chaotic world of Peru every Spaniard who came afterward, even the humblest baker or foot soldier,could expect to improve his or her condition in ways impossible to those who stayed at home” (Stepto Intro)This is especially true for Catalina de Erauso who broke defined gender roles normally assigned to women in 17th century Spain and Latin America. Catalina de Erauso was born in Basque country in the country of Spain and like her sisters and many girls in 17th century Spain she was sent to live in a convent at the age of 4. The women of these times often lacked agency and all their decisions were based on the men in their lives.In Spain women who are sent into the convents have no other remedy than to stay in the convent and wait until an arranged or marriage of convinience comes along or become a nun which happened to 3 of Catalina’s 4 sisters;only one of them got married.The women of the New world also lacked agency and de Erauso comments that “ The women of Tucuman have no more sense than to plot marriage to the first young Spaniard to present himself”(Erauso) Once again the importance of the woman is placed on the male and it doesn’t matter what status he holds as long as he is a Spaniard.While the New World is still a pretty male dominated world there are a few
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