Comments on: Pituco Summer

By: RICARDO

RICARDO — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:19:29 +0000

FIRST OF ALL THERE ARE PUBLIC ENTRANCES ON ALL PERUVIAN BEACHES INCLUDING ASIA. ANYBODY CAN GO AND THEY DO. SECOND YOU WILL LOVE BEING ABLE TO GET A MAID AND BE ABLE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR WIFE AND KIDS, NO MORE CLEANING , COOKING, DOING LAUNDRY OR WORKING ON THE YARD. NOW ITS JUST QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY

By: Nervous about moving

Nervous about moving — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:47:54 +0000

I am tentatively planning a move somtime soon to Peru with my wife and two kids. My wife is Peruvian but has lived here in the states now for the last 14 years. Neither I or my kids have ever set foot in Peru.
It seemed like a very exciting and romantic idea at first, though I was well aware of the cultural differences having been married into a Peruvian family now for ten years. Now that I have read all this info about pitucos/as, I am a bit more nervous and apprehensive about this move. I am white skinned and called gringo even by my wife’s family.
I am mostly Irish by bloodline and so though my maternal grandfather is Potowatomi Indian, I am fairly white skinned and have light colored hair.
I would prefer to live there as close to the working class as I can and would not want to be considered or called a pituco by any means. This is a bit disconcerting for me, to say the least.
I guess I will have to face the fact that at least some will consider me as that or even outright call me a pituco – I may just have to deal with that and try to dispell their ideas by treating everyone the same – with respect.

By: Hop Skip Jump Peru

Hop Skip Jump Peru — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:05:20 +0000

Your post is hilarious because these pitucos are just so common here in Lima. I see them everyday and while I will admit to sometimes feeling a bit shabby beside them in their gucci tracksuits and boofy highlighted hair, mostly I feel sorry for them. They must suffer immensely low self esteem in order to put themselves through the self improvement that they do.

By: Barb

Barb — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:42:28 +0000

Thanks, Nano, for your insightful comments. This issue is so complex for a foreigner to understand, and a person starts unravelling the dynamics, it all starts to sound a bit…crazy. I mean, it’s awful and funny at the same time. Interesting about the cholo con plata wanting to be called a pituco. That whole social striving deserves an article/blog post on its own. I’m not qualified to write it, but it does beg to be explained for English readers. Rich territory for a novelist.

By: Nano

Nano — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:41:49 +0000

The term ‘pituco’ (like the term ‘cholo’, which deserves it’s own entry) may have different meanings, depending on the circumstances (which can be pretty confusing. The limenian social structure is as complex as ridiculous). However, as a limeño, I believe the basic description of a pituco would be the following:

- White or ‘seen as’* white (otherwise it’s just a ‘cholo con plata’).
- Wealthy for Peruvian standards (otherwise it’s just an ‘igualado’ -wannabe or a ‘venido a menos’ – has-been).
- Conservative (in the worst possible meaning of the term).
- Racist and elitist (in-breeding is a must).
- Superficial.
- Usually, not very smart.
- Pitucos tend to discriminate against each other (that’s why they flash their status).

*racial perception also deserves it’s own entry.

The funny fact is that the ‘cholos con plata’, the wannabes and the has-beens would gladly be referred to as pitucos, given that, although the horrible definition above, it doesn’t seem to be an insult for them.

A wealthy white person is not necessarily a pituco.

Another definition of pituco would be a wider one, that is, everybody between upper middle class and rich. This definition is used by poor people.

Having maids is not necessarily bad, if they are treated with respect and decency. It gives people with no qualifications the opportunity to work. My maid, for instance, comes three times a week. Arrives at 10am and leaves around 4pm. She cleans the flat, washes the clothes and does some cooking if required (we also cook). We go to the supermarket, not her. We pay her way above average and give her money for the bus fare. We give her clothes and food to take home. She loves us and we love her. Having her allows us to spend quality time together (we both work).

Nannies are the best paid help in Lima. Usually, they earn more than, let’s say, a public school teacher or a police officer. Many nurses are working as nannies now, since they earn more that way than working at a hospital.

Earning US$2000 doesn’t make you rich in Lima. It makes you middle class.

The Asia bathing rule is absolutely illegal. The problem is the (lack of) enforcement of constitutional law.

Great site, btw. It’s always good to know how we are seen from a foreigner’s point of view.

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:27:31 +0000

Barb,

First of all, I love this site!!!! I like livinginperu.com as well but your site has a lot of valuable info.

As for Pitucos/as, I notice that they generally like to be treated differently or in a special manner. However, my parents are Peruvian, I was born in Chicago, and the majority of my friends are Caucasian, Asian, etc… (not many are Peruvian) so I tend to treat the Pitucos/as like “normal” people. It seems like they do not like that too much especially since I look like a “normal” Peruvian (not a Pituco/a).

Aside from going to “Playa Asia” in the summer, what do pitucos/as do in the winter months? What do Peruvians do in the winter months? The reason I ask is that I’m heading to Miraflores on 9/26/09 and want to know what people do during this time.

Keep up the great work!

By: Barb

Barb — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:03:13 +0000

Oh, god, Kukuli, I’m laughing and crying at the same time as I read your response. The racial/class issues here are so complex, no? Foreigners have no idea; they just come here to see Machu Picchu and to buy alpaca sweaters and knitted finger puppets and they leave the country unaware of the deep-seated tensions.

I agree that the denial is one of the hallmarks of the pituco thing.

Nice to hear from you.

By: Kukuli

Kukuli — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:27:19 +0000

Interesting, yet I believe you are strict in your definition. To me Pituco/a is anybody from lower to upper middle class that is sometimes barely or much lighter in the color of their skin, or isn’t! but is middle class, who think is racially/socially/economically superior. Wow, what a long sentence! bear with me, you speak Spanish, you probably understand what I mean. Pituco/a feels OK with herself/himself being racist because doesn’t believe she/he is racist (they are spoiled to death and love denial) They will assure you there is no racism in Perú. And if you suggest otherwise they brand you with their favorite remark “you are a resentido/a social!”
They don’t need to be those extreme examples you cited. Pitucos are young, are old, have surgery, have education or not. They just feel superior, one of the gifts given to us by colonization.
Lima is so racist i is an abomination, but I love my city, and after 20 years in the USA, I dream in going back. I don’t miss being served though..

By: Barb

Barb — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:57:23 +0000

Um, Eva — we’re not jealous. We live here in Peru and can afford to have maids, if we want them. The point is that we are offended by racist laws that permit maids to be treated like second-class citizens. I would hardly cheer “Viva El Peru” to what’s happening at Asia.

By: Americans pull a “Peruvian.” « Rachel in Peru!

Americans pull a “Peruvian.” « Rachel in Peru! — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:15:35 +0000

[...] A Peruvian is proud to be Peruvian (except for maybe the Pitucos), [...]