 |
| 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.
