Assistant Professor of Anthropology Teresa Delfin specializes in the areas of sex and gender as well as contemporary Latin America. More specifically, she studies LGBT Latinos in the U.S and for the past three years she has studied an LGBT community in Mexico. She presented her findings on her research in Mexico at the American Anthropological Association conference in 2015 and was interviewed by NPR on LGBT multiculturalism.
How does Anthropology help examine and understand current issues?
As an anthropologist, I am, above all, a student of culture. Training in anthropology teaches one not to assume that cultural traits are universal and to interpret culture on its own terms. An example that relates to my work is the following: In the US, we have a tradition of collapsing gender and sexual orientation into one broad category. When I explain that Mexico is, in fact, quite accepting towards LGBT people, Americans are often baffled that this can be the case in the country that coined the term "macho." Machismo, though, is a gender category. Lesbian, gay, and Bisexual are sexual orientations. Mexicans often struggle with "T" (transgender) being tacked onto LGB because transgender is a gender identity, not a sexual orientation.
Where does your interest in LGBT issues in Mexico stem from?
Gender and sexuality have been research interests of mine since my undergraduate days, but this is the first time I have had the opportunity to make an LGBT community the focus of my research. I grew up spending summers with my family in Mexico and am raising my children the same way. When I learned about a gay community (and a neighboring transgender neighborhood) near our summer home, Puerto Vallarta, the topic and location were a perfect match with my research interests and strengths.
Describe your current research
This is an ethnographic research project. I conduct participant observation in the neighborhood and conduct formal interviews with residents and visitors in the Zona Romántica, a gay neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta. I am in my third and final year conducting research towards a book about this neighborhood. I presented the first phase of this research last fall at the American Anthropological Association (AAA) conference and am looking forward to co-chairing a panel at the fall 2015 AAA conference with my former student and current research assistant, Jonathan Jiménez '15.
What is the impact of your research for Mexico and other international audiences?
Mexico is one of the most progressive countries in the world on LGBT issues. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Mexico City since 2010, with other regions following suit in close succession. In June of this year Mexico's Supreme Court declared state marriage laws that define marriage as a union between a man and a woman as discriminatory and unconstitutional. But in spite of all this, Mexico has a reputation internationally as being a repressive and "backward" country. I'm dedicated to putting forth research that shows Mexico in all its colorful and nuanced glory.
How are Whittier students part of your research?
For the second time, I am being assisted in my research by a Whittier College alumnus. Two years ago I had the pleasure of mentoring Alyssa Castaneda '13 and this year I am joined by Jonathan Jiménez,'15 who graduated with distinction as the Outstanding Student in Anthropology.
What classes will you be teaching in the upcoming year?
I will be unveiling a new online course in July, Medical Anthropology, which will then be offered in the spring. I will also be teaching Sex and Gender in Anthropology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Peoples and Cultures of Latin America, and an Applied Community Workshop. In addition, I also have two faculty-led study abroad trips coming up in 2016, the Dominican Republic in January and Peru in June.
What other areas/topics have you explored around Latin America?
My previous research was based in Cusco, Peru, and studied the transition from political repression and domestic terror to a tourism-based economy. Before that I studied the transition of sovereignty in Panama. I also worked as a research anthropologist and script writer for Discovery Channel, focusing on the ancient Mayan sites of Chichén Itzá and Uxmal.
