Kiss of the Spider Woman

A major theme in Kiss of the Spider Woman, homosexuality wasn’t culturally-accepted in Argentina at the time of the book’s publication. Molina is convicted of having sexual relations with minors and convicted to his full sentence, but we are never given the details of the incident(s), though it becomes clear that Molina has a fascination with‘masculine’ males. He considers himself to be more female, often calling himself “a girl” (85). Valentin asks, “Why do you like men?” and Molina answers, “What’s that got to do with it?” (44). Because Molina considers him to be a woman, he wants to marry a man. Talking about himself and his homosexual friends, Molina explains to Valentin, “we’re a hundred percent female...we’re normal women; we sleep with men” (203).

Using footnotes, Puig dives into studies of homosexuality, using Freud and other philosophers to explain the origins of homosexuality, suggesting that childhoods have a great effect on sexual preferences and sexuality is a major factor in repression. Valentin, who embodies stereotypical male gender roles, initiates a sexual relationship with Molina. This never seems to shift his mentality and love for womenbut does suggest that repression and bisexuality may be linked.