Gender violence is a persistent problem in our society, affecting women of all ages and backgrounds. This reality presents a constant challenge for women, who are often limited in their ability to protect themselves and defend their integrity. María Fernanda Ampuero's short story "Subasta" explores the role of disgust and monstrosity as mechanisms of defense and resistance against male harassment. In this essay, I will analyze how the protagonist of the story uses disgust and monstrosity as tools of protection and resistance against male violence. Through the deliberate adoption of a repulsive and monstrous appearance, the protagonist in "Subasta" actively defies social expectations and asserts her autonomy, ultimately reclaiming her agency and safeguarding herself from the dangers she faces.
Disgust serves as a significant tool employed by the protagonist to protect herself from male harassment. After discovering how men were disgusted by "la caca, la sangre y las vísceras del gallo muerto" (the feces, blood, and viscera of the dead rooster), she "filled her hands, knees, and face with
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The protagonist narrates, "Sé que aquí, en algún lado, hay gallos, porque reconocería ese olor a miles de kilómetros. El olor de mi vida, el olor de mi padre. Huele a sangre, a hombre, a caca, a licor barato, a sudor agrio y a grasa industrial" (Ampuero 12). The smells she describes are symbolic representations of the patriarchal system and oppressive behaviors of men. The persistent odor serves as a constant reminder of the pervasive violence inflicted by men on women, signaling danger and the potential for harm. It serves a dual function, acting as a means of detection and self-preservation for the protagonist, allowing her to navigate the world with heightened awareness, and as a deterrent for unwanted male attention that pushes men away and reclaims control over her own body and