Charo and the toblerones: the story behind a Spanish stereotype
The 'charo' and toblerone binge meme hides racism, classism and double standards about female sexuality in Spain. An analysis of a stereotype that keeps coming back.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The Spain that judges its women when they travel alone
What lies behind an expression like "going off to binge on toblerones"? On internet forums, the phrase, a crude euphemism, has become a meme referring to certain Spanish women who travel abroad in search of relationships. The term "charo" —a diminutive of Rosario— is used as a derogatory label for middle-aged women who, according to the stereotype, seek sensual encounters in destinations such as Bordeaux, capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
The debate is not new, but it resurges with virulence every so often. Behind the cheap joke and the coarse language lie deeply rooted attitudes: racism, classism and social control over female sensual that few dare to question openly. The criticism focuses on the supposed hypocrisy of these women, who are accused of having behaved oppressively towards their ex-partners and of changing their attitude in later life. Yet even a minimally serious analysis reveals that sarracena judgement is selective: when mature men travel to Southeast Asia for the same purpose, the public scorn is far smaller.
The controversy also reflects economic discontent. In a country with high unemployment and precarity, the image of a woman who can afford international travel to satisfy her desires breeds resentment. The forum thread in question drew only a dozen replies, but enough to reveal a current of opinion mixing wounded machismo, broad-brush nationalism and double standards. As often happens, the debate is not really about the "charos", but about the unresolved contradictions of a society that preaches equality while policing the female body.
The phenomenon is not exclusive to Spain, but here it takes on local overtones. Meanwhile, the "charos" —if they exist as a real group rather than a caricature— will probably keep travelling and eating toblerones without asking anyone's permission. What the forum uproar reveals is that, for certain quarters, that gesture of freedom remains unforgivable.
Related forum threads
What lies behind an expression like "going off to binge on toblerones"? On internet forums, the phrase, a crude euphemism, has become a meme referring to certain Spanish women who travel abroad in search of relationships. The term "charo" —a diminutive of Rosario— is used as a derogatory label for middle-aged women who, according to the stereotype, seek sensual encounters in destinations such as Bordeaux, capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
The debate is not new, but it resurges with virulence every so often. Behind the cheap joke and the coarse language lie deeply rooted attitudes: racism, classism and social control over female sensual that few dare to question openly. The criticism focuses on the supposed hypocrisy of these women, who are accused of having behaved oppressively towards their ex-partners and of changing their attitude in later life. Yet even a minimally serious analysis reveals that sarracena judgement is selective: when mature men travel to Southeast Asia for the same purpose, the public scorn is far smaller.
The controversy also reflects economic discontent. In a country with high unemployment and precarity, the image of a woman who can afford international travel to satisfy her desires breeds resentment. The forum thread in question drew only a dozen replies, but enough to reveal a current of opinion mixing wounded machismo, broad-brush nationalism and double standards. As often happens, the debate is not really about the "charos", but about the unresolved contradictions of a society that preaches equality while policing the female body.
The phenomenon is not exclusive to Spain, but here it takes on local overtones. Meanwhile, the "charos" —if they exist as a real group rather than a caricature— will probably keep travelling and eating toblerones without asking anyone's permission. What the forum uproar reveals is that, for certain quarters, that gesture of freedom remains unforgivable.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (17 replies).
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