Machismo

Paper Summary:

This paper considers the nature of the concept and attitude of machismo and its development on and influence within Latin America, countries shaped by the Spanish Conquest when the conquistadores entered the New World and conquered the Aztecs and other native peoples. It notes how machismo is described as more than a cult of virility as it combines elements of courage and intransigence with an aggressive maleness.

From the Paper:

"A frequently cited element in Latin culture is the concept of machismo, described as more than a cult of virility as it combines elements of courage and intransigence with an aggressive maleness. This contrasts with the Mexican vision of the passivity of women, seen as submissive and open by nature. This concept is known as marianismo. The two concepts developed from sharp definitions of femininity and masculinity in both Iberian and indigenous cultures, involving a resulting polarization in socialization, division of labor, and education between men and women. Sexism is an elusive and complex intellectual and social issue in Latin America, where so many women have been reluctant to abandon traditional models of femininity. "

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