Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Research Paper

First Advisor

Teresa Delfin

Second Advisor

Julie Collins-Dogrul

Abstract

As traditional Guadalajara Mexican folklore predicates, generations of familias ‘tapatias’ would drown their children and/or their new sons-in-law with their ‘chile macho’ that integrated a batch of sun dried peppers cultivated on mexican soil including chile puya, Serrano, and, most famous of all, the chile del arbol. The rite of passage ifs complete with one bite that accompanied a flood of tears and the loosening of mucus among the brave who dared to eat it. This scene captures the drama and the pleasure a person of Mexican heritage faces when eating their extra spicy ‘chile macho’- a type of salsa made with chile peppers that both plays an integral part in Mexican cuisine and acts as a metonym for Mexican masculinity. This medical anthropology paper will explore this concept of ethno-physiology, the curative effects of ‘picante’, and the collective perceptions behind the tolerance and consumption of picante among Guadalajaran individuals. An analysis of will be drawn from six semi-formal interviews among Guadalajaran natives within the Los Angeles area and an analysis of biomedical benefits of chile peppers with relation to the socio-cultural factors behind Mexican masculinity. The cultural metaphorical experience of consuming ‘picante’ among older native born Guadalajara, has indirectly influenced reasons for consuming picante. Traces of Mexican masculinity, values, customs, and ethno-physiological associations were expressed among six interviewees. The concept of unconsciously desiring to ‘remain tapatio,’ a true macho through this experience is not holistically represent why ‘picant’ as a cultural symbol has permeated the imaginations of Tapatios and western culture as a whole

Comments

WSP Major: Community Public Health and Advocacy

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