BODY, METAMORPHOSIS AND FEMALE RESISTANCE: PATRIARCHY AND RITUAL VIOLENCE IN “YO, COCODRILO”, BY JACINTA ESCUDOS

Abstract

Women's complex struggle against patriarchy and their constant quest for transformation and autonomy are reflected particularly in female-centered narratives. Female characters often find themselves navigating patriarchal norms and internalizing expectations that reinforce submission, highlighting the impact of these norms on women's intimate and subjective lives. Even when attempting to resist, they face obstacles that lead them to reproduce these patterns, creating a dynamic characterized by both oppression and subtle acts of resistance. Social rituals, such as marriage and motherhood, reinforce the notion that female identity is inextricably linked to a woman's role within the family and society, thereby shaping her self-image. In some instances, violence between women illustrates competition within an environment of scarce resources and a drive for male validation; this undermines genuine female solidarity and, indirectly, upholds the patriarchy. A symbolic example of this conflict is found in the transformation of the protagonist in "Yo, Cocodrilo," where turning into a crocodile allows her to defy patriarchal norms and gain a strength that transcends the roles imposed upon her. This metamorphosis represents the overcoming of boundaries and an act of rebellion that subverts gender expectations, marking a radical break from oppressive traditions. In the short story analyzed in this article, we see the body—a sacred symbol of identity in society—transformed into the site of the subject's metamorphosis; this serves as a survival strategy within a patriarchal context where rituals of female mutilation are practiced. To support this analysis, we draw upon the work of Muñoz Álvarez (2000), Bourdieu (2010), Butler (2007), and Figueiredo (2008).