Kiss of the Spider Woman

Content Warning: The source material and study guide contain discussion of murder, torture, political persecution, anti-LGBTQ+ bias (including anti-gay slurs), racism, addiction, suicidal ideation, and child sexual abuse.

A major theme in Kiss of the Spider Woman, LGBTQ+ identity wasn’t culturally accepted in Argentina at the time of the book’s publication. In fact, it is implied to be the reason for Molina’s incarceration on charges of the “corruption of minors” (17). It is unclear whether Molina actually engaged in any sort of sexual activity with a minor or if the charge simply reflects long-standing stereotypes of LGBTQ+ people as predators. Even if she was guilty, Puig implies that the charge would have been lesser or nonexistent for a straight man; anti-gay bias pervades Molina’s memories of her trial, with the judge calling her “a revolting fag” (106). 

Though Molina elsewhere uses the same slur to describe herself, its implication—that she is a gay man—is far from a settled matter. Molina not only behaves in ways that are coded feminine but also considers himself to be a woman, often calling himself “a girl.” Her fascination with “masculine” men is of a piece with this. Talking about herself and her friends, Molina explains to