Practicing Jametteness: The Transmission of “Bad Behavior” as a Strategy of Survival

Abstract

Caribbean bodies are sexually marked and recognized by their renowned abilities to roll their “its”—a skill informally learned at a very young age. This movement includes, at the very least, dexterous and vigorous rolls, gyrations, thrusts, and shakes of the hip, pelvis, and buttocks. It is colloquially known as “winin’” (or the wine) in Trinidad, Guyana, and Jamaica, “wukkin’-up” in Barbados, “despelote” in Cuba, “perreando” (or el perreo) in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and “gouye” (or the gouyad) in Haiti (just to name a few). The rolling “it” is often associated with festive spaces—such as Dancehall, Carnival, and parties—as well as with popular music genres like soca, dancehall-reggae, reguetón, and kompa.