1. Sirena Selena
pgs 1-51
By Heidy Jimenez &
Shannon Magni

2. Initial Impressions?
 When looking at the cover, what did you
expect it to be about?
 Was it a new experience reading about
drag queens?
 Were there any points at which you were
surprised?
 Has anyone read anything else by Mayra
Santos Febres?

3. General Terminology
What do they mean & how are
they relevant in the novel?
 Draga
 Mamá
 Loca
 Transformista
 Travestis
 Clientes
 Mujer Elegante

4. Miss Martha Divine
 Which terms could apply to her? Why?
 What is her role in Selena’s transition?
 What is her motive? Dream?
 Do you think she’s working more for her
own benefit or for Selena’s?
 Does she seem like she truly cares about
Selena or just see her as a business
opportunity?

5. Miss Martha Divine’s Fears?
 Passing & being found out
 “She trembled just thinking that someone in
the middle of takeoff, would point a finger at
her and shout “Look at that. That’s not a
woman.” And they would turn the aircraft
around and force her from it, throwing her
suitcases to the ground, her bags would open
suddenly spewing high heels, gauze
tape, depilatory creams, and thousands of
other cosmetic items…” (Santos Febres 10)

6. Sirena Selena
 Former identity?
 Leocadio
 Childhood and life before the passing of his
grandmother?
 Sentiments regarding Yesenia?
 What are your interpretations of his experience at
the beach as a young boy when older men are
looking at him lustfully?
 “Even at the beach those men wouldn’t leave him
alone. He didn’t know how they found him, how
they tracked him down everywhere, how they saw
something in him that made them drool over him
and filled their eyes with trouble” (pg 40)

7. Sirena Selena
 How do you think Selena feels about the
situation?
 How much agency does she have?
 Suggestion of taking hormones?
 Howdo you think Selena feels towards
Martha and her decisions?

8. Selena’s Transition
 What sparks her transition?
 Grandmother’s death
 Living on the streets
 Hustling & drug use
 Working with Miss Martha
 Rise to fame

9. General Themes in
Sirena Selena

10. Latin Lover
 Where in the story do we hear of the story
of the Latin Lover? In what context?
 “What Milton liked to do was to go to the
bars for the tourists who came to this
island in search of the mythical Latin lover
who would jump their bones in a night of
glorious passion under a palm tree.”
(Santos Febres 21)

11. The idea of “Passing”
 How is the idea of passing demonstrated in
this novel?
 Which characters live their lives with the
purpose of passing?
 How do the different characters experience it
differently?
 How can we compare the notion of passing
in the novel with we’ve previously discussed
about passing?
 What are different motives for passing?

12. What assumptions does
“passing” make about what it
means to be a woman?
 Which stereotypes are being re-enforced
by various characters in the novel?
 The glamorous life of “La mujer elegante”
 Pleasing men & being submissive
 When addressing drug use:
“Loca, that’s not where a young lady is
supposed to have her first period,”
 Appearance & sexuality
 Clothing, jewelry & cosmetics

13. Connections between
Sirena Selena and
Chapter 13 on Sex
Trafficking

14. Connections to Sex Trafficking
 In Chapter 13 of Latina/o Sexualities Amalia L.
Cabezas various aspects of the sex trade and
sex trafficking are discussed.
 What level of the sex trade do we see in this
section of the book and what dangers does it
present as mentioned by Cabezas?
 Street level work
 “…one of the most dangerous segments of the
sex trade, where women are exposed to high
levels of violence, arrest and chaos.” (210)

15. Characteristics of the Sex
Trade
 “As in other labor markets that are
segmented by English-language
skills, citizenship status, age,
nationality, and race or skin color,
the participation of Latinas in the
sex trade is configured by these
dynamics as well” (208)

16. Characteristics of the Sex
Trade
 What characteristics affect the sex trade
in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as described in
the beginning of the novel?
 Drug addiction, gender, how easily some
can “pass”, physical strength, age, naiveté
 Couldlimitations imposed by some
characteristics put some of the dragas at
greater risk?

17. Trafficking of Selena
 Whilethe chapter rather exclusively
discusses trafficking within the United
States, the same general principles apply
to the Caribbean setting.
 Could we say that Selena is being
trafficked to the Dominican Republic?

18. Final Thoughts?
 Whatdo you think will happen in coming
chapters?
 Thank you for your attention!