Machismo.

Machismo in Hispanic Culture

Danielle Gonzalez

California State University, Fresno

Spanish 125 Hispanic Culture

9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

Isolina Sands Ed.D.

September 24, 2014

What is your sex? What is your gender? Have you ever wondered what the difference was? In Laymen's terms, sex has to do with your chromosomes and genetic making; your sex is determined at birth depending on what sexual "equipment" you came into this world with. Gender, on the other hand, has to do with your mentality and which gender you identify with (Arnold). The Latin community has been known for having a very distinct definition of a man than most other cultures. A Latin boy must do a lot more than survive to be a particular age in order to be considered a man. Males of the Latin community have to prove themselves greatly to their families, their elders and those that surround them before being able to consider themselves as men.

A term that is often correlated with the Hispanic community is the word machismo. Machismo is an attitude and way of behaving that agrees with traditional ideas that reflect male supremacy over women, an idea that is very much still alive in the world we live in.

Are young boys raised and taught to be aggressive, emotionally reserved and proud? According to the research I conducted, the behavior that young men learn to partake in is derived from not only their female influences, but also the male influences that they have. Although women have fault in boys becoming macho men, they are not ultimately the ones to blame.

As much as it pains me to have to admit and recognize, the Latin communities are firm believers and followers of said ideology. Males are raised...