As a little girl, my mother always told me that it’s important that I learn how to cook, clean, and take care of the house. Not because she wanted to prepare me for the real world, but because she believed that no man will marry a girl who doesn’t have those qualities.
If you are part of a Hispanic family, you may be familiar with the term “machismo.” Machismo, which means strong, aggressive, masculine pride, impacts the lives of women and men. Machismo, as a social construct that emphasizes traditional male dominance and toxic masculinity, affects both Hispanic men and women by creating harmful stereotypes, encouraging toxic behaviors, and limiting personal and social development. The result is a cycle of emotional and psychological harm within the community.
In machismo culture, women are expected to be the caregivers of the house, despite the many dreams of different careers they may have. Women are pressured to be obedient toward men, cook, clean, and have no purpose besides taking care of their family. However, the violence women experience in dynamics like these isn’t talked about. In some cases, machismo is responsible for sexual assault and violence that women face in Hispanic culture.
Reports find that anywhere between 10% and 50% of women living in Latin America have been assaulted by their male partner. Men aren’t the only ones guilty of perpetuating machismo. Hispanic women can be “machistas” as well, due to internalized misogyny. Generations pass down the domesticated roles that designate women as caretakers and submissive to their husbands. Usually, sons are given more liberty than daughters. For example, a machista mother could favor her son and let him stay out past midnight with no curfew, but when it comes to her daughter, she won’t even be allowed to leave the house.
While machismo affects women, the impacts it has on men are highly disregarded. Men are expected to be strong, never show emotions, and be confident and dominant. Since men are expected not to feel any emotions or sensitivity, they can end up expressing their feelings in the form of anger and violence. Machismo is not only damaging to men’s mental health but also to society at large, as they could turn their violence on women. The World Health Organization states that 38% of femicides are committed by male intimate partners.
Because machismo is passed down each generation, many men do not realize what machismo is since it is so normalized. After learning about it and being surveyed on the term “machismo,” 28% of Hispanic men say they often align with the definitions of machismo. Machismo affects both women and men; however, some argue that machismo affects women more. This is because women generally have no freedom or the same opportunities as men. To many, machismo is rewarding to men and a burden to women. Although it’s true that Hispanic women are heavily targeted within machismo culture, it would be ignorant to ignore the problems it creates for men. In a cross-sectional study targeting people of Hispanic descent, it was revealed that components of machismo in men predict higher levels of negative cognitions and emotions, which are associated with health outcomes like depression and anxiety. To the new generations of Hispanics raising kids and families: don’t teach your children to follow expected gender roles. Teach your daughters that they can have fun and pursue their own careers. Teach your sons that it’s normal for men to cook, clean, and show emotions. It is time to end the generational trauma of machismo.
Works Cited
Atske, Sara. “What U.S. Latinos Say About ‘Machismo.’” Pew Research Center, 17 Dec. 2024, https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/12/17/what-u-s-latinos-say-about-machismo/#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20personal%20behavior,%2C%2017%25%20say%20they%20do.
Ensley, Jessica. “The Harmful Effects of Gender Roles Through the Development of Toxic Masculinity (Machismo).” Reproaction, 2 Feb. 2021, https://reproaction.org/the-harmful-effects-of-gender-roles-through-the-development-of-toxic-masculinity-machismo/.
Quintana, Hannah. “Machismo Culture Must Go.” The Michigan Daily, 21 Mar. 2022, https://www.michigandaily.com/michigan-in-color/machismo-culture-must-go/.
Vasquez, Yessenia. “Machismo and the Broken Man.” Empower Lab, 4 Nov. 2018, https://www.empowerlab.org/our-blog/2018/10/7/machismo-and-the-broken-man.
ZCenter. “Machismo in Latino Culture.” ZCenter, 17 Jan. 2024, https://zcenter.org/blog/machismo-in-latino-culture/.
“Machismo – a Hidden Cause of Violation and Femicides?” Centrum Pro Lidská Práva a Demokracii, n.d., https://www.humanrightscentre.org/blog/machismo-hidden-cause-violation-and-femicides#:~:text=However%2C%20women%20are%20the%20most,same%20job%20opportunities%20as%20men.