Bustamante 1
Rosio Bustamante
Literature 128
Ms. Greer
The exceptions of early Latin American women
For years the role of women across the world was mostly the same. The place of the
woman was in the home with the children. Most women would accept society’s view of them
and went along with what was expected of them. There were however, a few exceptions to this.
Women who had enough strength to defy society’s views and follow their hearts desire.
One of these exceptions was Catalina De Erauso, who was born in San Sebastian, Spain
in 1585. Catalina wasn’t your average woman, on the contrary she did some things that even by
today’s standards aren’t accepted. She was born into a family who were members of the Spanish
Army. While men during this time were given more choices and had freedom to do what they
wanted with their lives, Catalina was given two options. She could either marry or become a nun.
At fifteen Catalina escaped the convent she was in.
Once out she changed into what she would become for the rest of her life, a man. At least
in the eyes of the rest of the world she was a man. She became Francisco De Loyola, traveled
South America, became a soldier,murderer and engaged on two different occasions. While she
was a murderer and should have been convicted, all of her crimes were forgiven once her secret
came out. And it was revealed that she was a virgin. She document some of her life events in her
