November 25, 2012
Horacio Genis
Dear brother-in-la
Machismo is one aspect of our culture that makes it
different from other cultures around the world. Machismo has different faces
and it can be expressed in different ways. It can be used in a good and a bad
way. The good way of machismo is when the man is providing for his family. The
bad form of machismo is when the man is abusive to his family, especially to
his wife. Man that move from one country to a different one with different
society see the necessity to change to a different macho. As man develop a new way of macho, machismo in
the new country has taken a different
role. To the new type of macho women are more equali to men at home and work ,
and forcing man to see themselves on the same level as women.
In the article The
Latin American Family: Families vs. Machismo by Ingoldsby,
Bron B, he explains to different characteristic of Machismo. Bron
comments that the fist characteristic of machismo is aggressiveness. In order
for male to be consider a real macho, he must show his mascunality, strong and
physical power. The macho also has to make verbal and Physical abuse to women
and challenge men fists or weapons. Bron believes that the second characteristic
is hyper sexuality. They scoffed at impotent and homosexual. The cultural goal
of machismo is to conquest women and the more is the better. Bron writes “To
take advantage of young woman sexually is cause of pride and prestige, not
blame. In fact, some men will commit adultery just to prove to themselves that
they can do it”(par 4). This shows that these men don’t really have feeling
towards women or care of that they think. They do must of the stuff just to
prove to other man how masculine and tough they are. They see the stuff they do
as a thing that will improve their statues or a trophy.
As I said there are many
faces of machismo. There is people that don’t basically use completely
aggressiveness to show there mascunality. Some people just show there
mascunality verbally. These machos do not bit up their wives buy impose limits
to their wives all the time. They only want the women to stay at home to cook
and clean. They want to take care of the kids because they believe it’s the
women’s job. They are so jealous, and they believe that if they let them go out
and look for a real job other man will talk to them. I believe a perfect
example is your brother –in-law. Ever since they got together he has not let
her work in a real job. He also doesn’t let her or want to teach her how to
drive a car. In the morning I’ve seen her at 5:00 am in the morning preparing
food for him to go to work. Later in the afternoon when he gets back from work
he expects to find hot food and the laundry to be done. I’ve heard your wife
and sister comment that he doesn’t let her work because he think she is going
to talk to other man out there. Like him many other men still believe that the
women should only stay at home and do everything for the man. I think that they
still think as if they were back in their native country.
As Latino males with “Machista” Immigrate to The United
States, they find challenging the new American society. The national Compadre
Network takes a hand-on looking at a key element of Latino culture identity.
The National Compadre Network focus on helping men with a “machista” problem
that are willing to change for the
better their children and wife. The NCN
is trying to help and pass the on the message to all who will listen. David
Aballos believes “How Latinos have been traditionally tough to relate to
themselves, their family and community is different from the wider America
society that they now see themselves ascending into”(par 6). I believe that
most of the adults males that move from Mexico have a harder time assimilating
to the new culture in The United States because of their machista
identity. At the end of the day the with
the help of the National Compadre Network they recognize their mistakes and do
the right by their wife, children, and companions. They learn to be better
Fathers and husbands. These male became much more touch with their family.
Even though I have been living for a few years with you and
mi sister your wife I have seen the good of macho. You are the macho that does
the right thing for their family and shows that he cares for them. I have seen
that you don’t feel bigger than your wife our use that aggressiveness to show
you toughness. On your day off I have seen that you do laundry and cook because
your wife gets tire from work. I have seen also that you do the grocery
shopping sometime. You are presenting
the good face of machismo and doing what many machos would not do or think that
what you do is wrong.
In the article “Bros Before Hoes” by Michael Kimmel, he ex
plains what is consider to be a real man. He describes a set of rules that a
guy must follow in order to be consider as a real man. Guys have to follow
these rules and be tough to prove their masculinity to other men. There are certain boundaries that guys must
not cross for them to be consider feminine. Kimmel believes that everything is
physiological develop in this boys at a young age by their father or other man
in their life. Kimmel writes “As the
barber the boy’s hair for the treatment, using, apparently some heat and some
painful burning chemicals, the boy began to cry. The barber turned to the boy’s
father and pronounced. “this boy is wimp!” he went on, “This has been spending
too much time with his mama! Man, you need to put your toot down. You have to
get this boy away from his mother!”(615).This shows that many guys are thought
since there are really young to start like real man. Fathers or other people
that little kids should not spend time with their mother in order to become a
real man.
Machismo is one of the things that define Latino culture, especially
to se of Mexican heritage. Many times criticize this part of our culture. Some
of the Machista stereotypical images are that of womanizing misogynist. This
man sees woman as sex objects and useful to cook, clean, and have children with
more than one women. many times they spend a little to no time with their
children.
Machismo basically means masculinity pride or exaggerated
masculinity.
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