Latin American culture is associated with idealized gender roles for men and women, known as Machismo and Marianismo. These dictate norms and expectations for male and female members of the society respectively. Achievement of these gender roles has long influenced behavior and interactions within families and communities around Latin America. Marianismo is the female role in Latin American society coming from the beliefs of the virgin Mary. Marianismo is the idea that all women should show femininity, the traits are to be modest, pure, faithful, motherly, and eternally self giving. Women are suppose to be the ones to take care of the house by cooking, cleaning, nurturing the kids and serving the husband. Machismo is masculinity in the most extreme way. Machismo is the idea that men must be the 'macho' man. Men are suppose to be strong, dominating, aggressive and bring money home. In the three works of Child of the Dark, Adios Muchachos, and Strawberry and Chocolate, Marianismo and Machismo are both portrayed. .
Alicia from Adios Muchachos is set in Havana, Cuba in the 1990's. Alicia becomes a bicycle hooker in order to get by in life after the fall of the Soviet Union. Alicia is a beautiful woman and knows how to use her looks to get exactly what she wants. In some ways Alicia somewhat represents Marianismo, and in other ways doesn't live up to her full feminine self. Alicia tricks rich foreign "sugar daddies" into giving her wealthy gifts that she eventually sells on the black market. After bringing the men home, Alicia points out all the decrepit appliances that she can't afford. "Holy shit, that damn air conditioner is on the blink again" (Adios Muchachos, 29). Alicia does not treat these men like johns and does not act like a whore, but she does give them a lot of sex, therefore receiving the gifts in return. Alicia is portrayed in this novel as not representing Marianismo very well.
