Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Vesperi, Maria

Area of Concentration

Anthropology

Abstract

This ethnographic study explores the cultural significance of cockfighting in Puerto Rico. In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on the practice. Through a series of in-person interviews conducted in Aguada, Puerto Rico in October 2022, I documented the impact of the ban on this ritual practice among those whose families and livelihoods have been intertwined with the industry for generations, many of whom consider it a part of their personal heritage. Based on fieldwork that included visiting galleras, or cockfighting rinks, and the homes of galleros, those who raise roosters, this thesis analyzes kinship structures and social and gender relationships in relation to the ritual of fighting roosters, with an adjacent exploration of roosters themselves as a symbolic extension of masculinity and pride. Through additional research, I investigated the legal actions leading up to and following the implementation of the ban, as well as the economic ramifications that followed for those connected to the many intertwined industries and professions. This research is presented from a decolonial perspective, as it examines how Puerto Rico’s status and colonial relationship with the United States come into play in determining the legality of cultural practices on the island, focusing on historical context and a long history of exploitation, drawing connections to other instances of US mainland intervention in Puerto Rican agricultural industries and economic affairs.

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