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 bias in communities of males as much as in those studying it: Being a man in the Latino world assumes heterosexuality as the norm.

During the last two decades, researchers have questioned the concept of machismo as the central descriptor of Latino males' identity in the United States. This one-sided view of machismo has been criticized, and research has described it within a gender-relational view without denying the oppressive aspects that characterize machismo ideology–that is, an entitlement that locates women and/or the feminine as inferior. Thus, more recent research has focused on family protection, loyalty, compassion, respect, and dignity as components of machismo. A nuanced understanding of machismo proposes the existence of different forms in which masculinity and machismo are expressed among Latinos. Such research challenges the notion of a homogeneous Latino male identity, suggesting that this identity exists in the intersection of race, color, social class, and immigration. Research that advances a continuum of masculinities reflects Latino males' heterogeneity and the ambivalent ascription of machismo values. Some men may express the stereotypical forms of benevolent or archetypical machismo. Other groups of Latino males may be more compassionate and conflicted about how they participate in its stereotypical forms. Furthermore, some may have adopted or been socialized to adopt a more collaborative way of relating in the social world. Finally, a group, such as others from various ethnic, national, and racial origins, may present the more deleterious forms of patriarchal values. According to research, the way masculinity is expressed is not correlated with acculturation. Research is needed to study the linkage between different forms of masculinity and intimate violence.

As an ideology, machismo affects men and women of all sexual orientations, races, and cultures. As anthropologists have found, machismo as an expression of gender power that provides benefits for one group over others is found in most cultures of the world. Machismo is comparable to racism and classism because it sustains inequality and violence–the power of some men over women. It is not, however, a manifestation of one specific ethnic group but of specific cultural and historical contexts.