Many (or most) Latin countries have very strict gender roles. For example, in Mexico, gender role expectation is often even carried over into gay life where instead of being just gay, you are either the "male" or the "female", and the "female" often dresses and acts very feminine. Whether that is do to preference or to increase social acceptance, I don't know. The "female" is regarded lower than the "male" because of gender stereotypes.
