Amazons without a hat: the phallic (post)colonial ego and the objectification of women in European travelogs in Chile (19th century)

Abstract

This paper aims to study how an erotic gaze is produced in the postcolonial situation. Thirteen travel logs are analyzes corresponding all to european travelers in chiel at 19th century. The erotic gaze is understood as continuity of the phallic colonial ego, and it is argued that is part of the imperial gaze that is projected towards women. This analysis enables to identify two dynamics in tension: first, the women appear as an object of entertainment and service and stressed at the same time by emotionality and rationality as arbitrarily demanded features. Second, women appear as an object of exchange and stressed in a complex way by the categories of race and class.