"Warmi urquy": marriage proposals and gender hierarchy in the Peruvian Andes

Abstract

The warmi urquy ritual, still practiced in the province of Huanta, Ayacucho region, is a tradition of marriage proposal in the Peruvian Andes, in which gender hierarchies and sexist social norms are evident. The objective of this research is to understand the cultural and social significance of this practice by analyzing the manifestation of gender roles and power relations during the ceremony. The research is conducted using a qualitative approach with ethnographic methodology, combining participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and informal conversations. Direct participation in the ceremony allowed for the recording of the roles of the actors, symbolic expressions, and perceptions of godparents, family members, and guests. The results show that women are at the center of the ritual, while the groom and his family seek to demonstrate their performance and ability to "take her out" as a wife, evidencing social control and gender hierarchy. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the persistence of Andean traditions despite social and cultural changes.