Macho Man: The True Meaning of Machismo

Latin men demonstrating machismo and what it means to be a man in their culture.

Around the globe there are certain characteristics that are consistently found in each and every culture, although the definitions of those characteristics do and will vary.  One such characteristic is the institution of gender, but as previously discussed gender norms and values do vary.  Today’s blog post will focus on one gender ideology that is poorly understood among many people: the Latinx concept of machismo, a gender categorization of masculinity among Latino men.  This blog post will explore the definitions of machismo to provide a more accurate description of this concept in hopes that you, the reader, will gain a better understanding and therefore withhold judgement of both it and Latino men in the future.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines machismo as "a strong sense of masculine pride; an exaggerated masculinity."  Machismo is the term used to describe and define masculinity in Latinx cultures throughout the New World (and occasionally albeit rarely among Spaniards, as well).  The idea of machismo that is most often put forward in the literature is one of dominance in all spheres of life.  Machismo men are characterized as strong and dangerous, as well as sexually possessive and promiscuous.  Machismo men are meant to be feared as they have little to no respect for women or anyone who may stand in their way.  There are several studies that support this notion as machismo has been cited as the cause for domestic violence and the acceptance of extramarital affairs among Latino men, as well as the poor school performances of young boys who avoid asking questions in the classroom for fear as coming off weak, particularly as the majority of their teachers of women and therefore less than.

But there is another side of machismo, one that the literature does not often discuss or emphasize.  Machismo is a means of framing Latino masculinity, but there is a softer side that many Latino men subscribe to over the dangerous and domineering one.  Machismo men are soft, caring fathers who are devoted to their families and are expected to be the sole economic providers for their families.  This can take shape as men who marry and expect their wives to stay home to raise the children while they (the husbands and fathers) work and make enough money for their families to live comfortable and happy lives.  Unfortunately, we recognize that this is not always possible and can lead to much stress for these men, which can contribute to domestic violence (although it is by no means an excuse for such actions).  This aspect of machismo can also take the form of men who opt never to marry and instead stay with their mothers and siblings in order to take care of them if the father is no longer available to fulfill that role.

Ultimately, this framing of masculinity is not particularly different from how masculinity is framed among other cultures, particularly American culture, but the negative aspects of the Latinx concept of machismo are stressed more so than those in American culture.  This could be due to ethnocentric attitudes that prefer to the emphasize the negative aspects of other cultures, but this is too simplistic of an explanation that does undermine the sad realities of machismo in domestic violence, rape, and infidelity.  As the purpose of this post is to educate the reader and lead them to a more open mindset on the concept of machismo I encourage you to consider all aspects of any topic you read and consider the evidence and its sources.  It is important to do so, particularly in situations of cultural understandings, to avoid making and reaching ethnocentric conclusions, but do not waiver too far into the culturally relativistic mindset that you ignore human rights abuses.  Ultimately, it is best to be fair and aware that any story has multiple viewpoints, all of which should be taken into consideration before reaching a final conclusion.

References

Author Unknown.  No Date.  “Domestic Violence During Pregnancy.”  Standford University Website.

Author Unknown.  No Date.  “Machismo Sexual Identity.”  Standford University Website.

Marple, 0.  2015.  "Machismo, Femicide, and Sex Tourism: An Overview of Women's Rights in the Dominican Republic."  Council on Hemispheric Affairs Website.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Newman, N.  No Date.  “Machismo: A Cultural Barrier to Learning.”  Young Latin Males: An American Dilemma.  Arizona State University Website.

Author's Note: This blog post was inspired by hate speech but written in love for a dear friend who provided me a different outlook on machismo that is very rarely discussed but showcased here.