Hitting has been going on for over 50 years
I don't know the reason. All I know is that old diablos used to hit all sexes equally. In fact, in the past, men used to be chased more often than women. Children were just threatened, but hardly hit.
Nowadays hitting women is the preference. There seems to be almost a machista pleasure about ridiculing women and seeing them trying to flee the wrath of the diablos. The bigger the ass, the better. Diablos hardly bother with skinny women. If you got big ass, big boobs and show off a lot, expect the diablos to swarm over you like bees to honey.
In La Vega, there are no exclusions. No one is safe. Prior to the last two years, the Vegas' diablos would stuff several layers of the goat's gut and dry each layer individually and the balloon would get harder and harder, to the point where it would almost be solid. Las vegas Diablos initiated the one balloon tradition. The old tradition had as many as 15. The old 50's diablos balloon was flexible and soft and it would only sting. As it got harder it became bruising. Whips continue to be used by Santiago's diablos, but they use it as a ritual against each other, but never hit directly.
Nowadays it is suspected that Las Vegas' diablos are using tire rubber balloons which can even be deadly. Two years ago someone was killed with a hit. Broken bones are common.
Another reason diablos don't hit men as hard as women is the fear of retaliation. There have been gun fights over extreme hits.
So if you are a woman, with a big ass, nice tits and showing off your body, stay away from La Vega and other carnivals.
Faggots love to get hit in the ass and go to carnivals to challenge the diablos with their best hit. Some use pillows and other stuffing. There is also a pseudo-masochist group in Santo Domingo that goes to La Vega for fun.
TW