Alfredo Velarde

The real Huaylaca, 2009

La Huaylaca, en muchas manifestaciones de la sierra peruana es una sátira a esa mujer que encarnada por un hombre, se convierte en el centro de atención y burla en las fiestas, ritos y costumbres, creando mitos alrededor de los roles de género.

The Huaylaca is a satirical character of a type of typical Andean woman; her character is portrayed in every cultural event in the Andes. This character is always represented by a man, part of the very irony that the character expresses. The mimicking of a female role by a male actor serves to further entrench this archetype known within the Andean myth. As such, at every party, she becomes the center of attention and it has become customary for her to be the target of much teasing.