Machismo..

I decided to post my thoughts on an issue that affects Latino culture immensely, but for some reason is rarely talked about in the media, or discussed in Hispanics family's.  Machismo can be very detrimental to the Latino community, to our families, and to our success as a people at large.  Although there are negatives associated with it--there are also positives, that if we emphasize, we can take something that seems like a weakness, and turn it into a strength!

A dictionary definition defines machismo as: "a strong or exaggerated sense of manliness; an assumptive attitude that virility, courage, strength, and entitlement to dominate are attributes or concomitants of masculinity."

Machismo is simply an exaggerated, or idealized version of what it means to be a man. The positive aspect of machismo is someone who provides for his family, a person who works hard to put food on the table, a protector, a man that is strong-physically and emotionally--a man of faith.

While the negatives of machismo, are one who is domineering (because it is his right to be), one who is possessive, aggressive, treats women like garbage, uses them, is arrogant and too proud to admit he is wrong, hyper-sexual, and abusive.

I have personally seen both of these aspects of machismo played out among my own family and friends, and when I see the negative side of it, it saddens me. Mostly because I know that these things are often passed on from one generation to another, and they do nothing but harm families, and break, what would otherwise be strong family bonds. 

The fact that it is particular to Hispanic families is also something especially hurtful. While each culture has its gender roles, and many of them are also negative, and detrimental, this one hits very close to home. No one can ever truly embody all of what our society expects of the so called perfect man, or even the perfect women (think Marianismo, which is actually based on Latino women embodying the traits of the Virgin of Guadalupe)-they simply do not exist!

I really hope that every Hispanic young man can come to realize that a true man is one that is patient, kind, gentle, good to his spouse, treats his girlfriend, wife, etc with respect and dignity--that he values her feelings, recognizes her as a unique individual, and as such, one who has a right to what all people want and deserve. 

Once an individual recognizes the negative aspects of something that has been so ingrained into our culture, that has been passed on from one generation to the next, for hundreds of years, he can do something to stop it. I am asking every Latino to embrace machismo, not disregard it, but embrace the positive aspects of it, the things that build up, and do not break down. That to be a man of faith, a man that follows Christ, is not weak, that one who turns the other cheek is actually stronger than one who resorts to violence. 


God bless.

 
-Chris.