Gender relations and masculinity in northern Chile mining areas: ethnography in schoperías

this paper deals with an ethnography aimed at describing and understanding the gendered organization of schopería life and masculinity in northern chile. schoperías are characterized physically and socially and the effects these premises have on gender relations and masculinity assigned to them by waitresses and clients are studied. schoperías are beer halls, mainly for men, served by women, located in cities near copper mines in chile. they are strongly gendered and classed places. schoperías are reference scenarios for men and their performance; they are premises that privilege masculine socialization and heterosexual hegemonic masculine performance. paradoxically, they are at the same time unique places where male friendship and complicity take place, allowing homosociability and the expression of a certain type of affection and feelings among men.