With the system of macho and maricone, there is a clear gender divide. American cultures are known to be strongly gender-dichotomous and this works as well in the sexual sphere. There is a general awareness in the population of the more effeminate maricones and they are accepted as they are. They perform traditional women's duties and have traditional female jobs such as working on markets, in bars and restaurants. Homosexual activity is the strongest among younger men who are not yet married.
Girls have to remain virgins so the young men turn to each other for sexual outlets.
Interestingly enough, this situation pertains although women's liberation has made stong inroads in Nicaraguan society. Growing older, most young men marry and make an end to their homosexual experiments. The sexual behavior is strongly modelled on a system of macho-men who penetrate maricones. As stated above, this system is the public face that hides what goes on in private. In privacy, the tables can be turned around.