Machismo

The concept of machismo and other ideas that define masculinity among Latino men serve to perpetuate stereotypes about Latinos and legitimate a constricted psychological portrayal of Latinos in the United States. In the definition of Latino males and masculinity, machismo reflects the complex interaction of behavioral, social, and cultural dimensions in the constitution of gender relations, and as such, it is a proxy for a narrow, negative view of Latino men. Machismo is the leading research and clinical construct used to characterize Latino men. It locates Latinos as deficient individuals or embedded in contexts in which they oppress others. Despite its importance in the definition of male identity, the psychological study of machismo lacks systematic study in the nonheterosexual world. This world supports an accepted ...