Listen, Mija 🔥 EP. 9: Holy Sex, Mija — Purity Culture, Pleasure & Patriarchy
- Jen Lezan
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
In this raw and revolutionary episode, we unpack what it means to be a sexually empowered Latina — on our own damn terms. We explore how our culture, family, religion, and generational narratives have shaped our relationship with sex, pleasure, and the body — and how we’re unlearning shame to reconnect with our divine feminine power.
We dive into the myths that hold us back — la Virgen, la mártir, la mujer calladita — and reclaim the truth: our sexuality is sacred, powerful, and ours to define.
Personal reflection: Growing up with las tías warning, “cierra las piernas,” being told sex was “dirty,” even though we were surrounded by hypersexualized media and whispers about “puta” and “Virgen” dichotomies.
Question: “Why are Latina women still told that our worth lies in our silence, suffering, or sacrifice?”
Declaration: “Today, we’re taking that narrative back. Sex is not shameful. Pleasure is not a sin. And the divine feminine is not here to be controlled.”
Topic Breakdown + Discussion
🔥 Segment 1: Purity Culture & the Latina Martyr Myth
The myth of la Virgen María vs. La Malinche dichotomy: Madonna/whore complex in Latinx culture.
The “mujer buena” ideal: submissive, quiet, self-sacrificing, asexual.
How purity culture ties into Catholicism and patriarchal control over women’s bodies.
Discussion on how these myths manifest in family dynamics, dating, marriage, and sex.
💦 Segment 2: Pleasure is Political: Reclaiming the Orgasm
Why many Latinas weren’t taught that sex could be pleasurable, let alone divine.
The orgasm gap and its roots in cultural + religious repression.
How deconstructing shame allows us to feel fully in our bodies.
Bridging sexual and spiritual pleasure: connecting with the divine feminine through embodiment.
Why Many Latinas Weren’t Taught That Sex Could Be Pleasurable, Let Alone Divine
For many Latinas, messages about sex growing up came with a heavy mix of cultural norms, religious doctrine, and patriarchal expectations.
Marianismo — the cultural ideal that women should be pure, self-sacrificing, and modest — often taught that a woman’s value was tied to her virginity and her role as a caregiver, not a sensual being.
Catholic upbringing — for those raised in Catholic households, sexuality was often framed through sin and morality, not pleasure or self-connection. Any expression of desire outside of marriage could be labeled “dirty” or “immoral.”
Generational silence — many mothers and grandmothers carried their own shame and trauma, passing down silence as protection. Not talking about pleasure was a way to keep daughters “safe,” even though it left many of us unprepared to claim our sexual agency.
This silence created a deep disconnection from the idea that sex could be joyful, healing, or even sacred. Many Latinas weren’t taught that our bodies are not just vessels for others, but sacred spaces for our own delight — which is why reclaiming this truth feels revolutionary.
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Thanks for listening!
Jen, Jennie and Stella
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Ep. 9 Music attributions
Investigations by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Fluffing a Duck by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Five Armies by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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