Machismo is a term that has long been used by the Latinx community to describe a strong or aggressive sense of masculinity and the belief that men are superior to women. The term “machista” can be used to describe someone who demonstrates a strong and aggressive sense of masculinity. The term “machismo” is very similar to the term misogyny, but not quite the same. More and more people are becoming aware of the true meaning of this word and the repercussions that follow it.
As a member of the Latinx community, I can say that machismo is something that is still happening today. Young boys and girls are being taught things that will later affect who they are and how they act. Boys are taught not to show emotion and that they must be the “man of the house” or the “macho man.” Women are taught to be submissive and to be stay at home moms.
There are many small habits that are representative of machismo that can be seen in Latinxs. In the Latinx community, it is very common for the woman to stay at home and take care of the children while the husband goes out and works. It is also common for the men to always be served food before the women. It is also important to note that men rarely are the ones to serve their own plate. Men often expect women to serve them and will not eat until someone serves them, which in my opinion is so ridiculous. It is almost as if they expect to be spoon fed. I believe that both men and women should be responsible for the chores around the house like cooking and cleaning. Latinx women are told that they must learn how to cook in order to be a good wife someday.
Another example, in the Latinx community (specifically believed by the older generations) is that the woman must stick by her husband no matter the situation . It doesn’t matter if the husband is abusive or a cheater, the woman has to stay. These actions tend to be justified by people saying “it’s how men are,” although if it were a woman doing these things to her husband, she would be looked down upon. Machismo is damaging to women because it encourages them to accept mistreatment and stay in abusive situations.
An article by everydayfeminism.com lists four ways that machismo, or “the macho culture” hurts men. Machismo causes emotional repression, encourages aggression and violence, perpetuates one dimensional representations, and it damages relationships. I must say that I agree with all of these. In my life I have seen the way machismo has affected men close to me. I grew up with a dad who had these machista ideals imposed on him as a child, and therefore had a difficult time being affectionate and showing emotion to his children. My dad was forced to “act like a man” at an age where he was simply a child. Machismo teaches young boys that in order to “be a man” they have to always be strong and hide emotion. If someone questions their masculinity, they have the right to fight them in order to prove themselves and defend their pride. Men are taught to be these confident people, but if a woman shows the same confidence, it is often seen as arrogance. It is as if a woman’s confidence is threatening to the ego of a man.
Machismo is harmful because it places men on the top of a pedestal and places women beneath them.
The article also mentions the issue of men not viewing women as fully autonomous and equal sexual beings. In the Latinx community, it is not common for women to openly talk about their sex life. Men on the other hand are often glorified and given a pat on the back. Machismo reinforces the idea that women should be submissive and “lady-like” and a woman is considered shameful if she owns her sexuality. . This type of behavior needs to stop. Latinx women, and women in general, should be able to own who they are and their sexuality.
Just like men.
Machismo is harmful to men and women alike, and has lasting impacts. It is very unfortunate to still see traces of machismo in today’s society, specifically in the Latinx community. I have hope that these types of behaviors and the way Latinx men and women are raised will change as newer generations take the issue into their own hands.