Divinity Criminalized: Santería and Its Challenges to Western Womanhood

• Gem Sobet, Political Science, University of Delaware

• Andrea Glass-Heffner, Women and Gender Studies, University of Delaware

In recent years, Orisha imagery and Afro-Latino spiritual traditions such as Santería have gained increased visibility within mainstream media. Through music, performance, and digital platforms, artists such as Beyoncé, Cardi B, SZA, and others have incorporated Orisha symbolism as expressions of strength, healing, spirituality, and divine femininity. These representations allow women to reclaim cultural and spiritual identities while challenging traditional expectations of womanhood. However, the growing visibility of these practices has also been met with intense public backlash, including accusations that these traditions are dangerous, or “demonic.” This research examines why Afro-diasporic spiritual expressions continue to face hostility in contemporary Western society. Historically, traditions such as Santería have been criminalized and stigmatized through colonial narratives that positioned non-Western spiritual practices as inferior or threatening. In contrast, Santería presents alternative understandings of gender and power by recognizing women as spiritual authorities, community leaders, and sacred. Through an analysis of social media discourse, audience responses, and public conversations surrounding contemporary uses of Orisha imagery, this project examines how women utilize Afro-diasporic spirituality as a means of reclaiming power and challenging traditional expectations of femininity. It argues that the demonization of Santería reflects broader resistance toward traditions that disrupt dominant Western religious and gender frameworks. Ultimately, this research demonstrates how embracing Orisha culture serves as a form of spiritual and cultural resistance, allowing women to redefine authority, reclaim divine femininity, and challenge submissive models of womanhood.