Machismo is a common state of mind in Latin America. Being here, the class has learned a lot about how machismo manifests itself in the culture and actions of those around us. One of the first things that probably comes to mind for each of our women are the piropos. Piropos are cat-calls, and it is hard to walk more than two blocks without receiving one. I personally feel the objectification of my body as I stare down the men who look me up and down and tell me that my thighs are nice, or that god has blessed them today. Gabina from One Réspe works with a group of girls to teach them how to respond to such public display of machismo. One clever saying that these women now respond with is “Would you say that to your mother/sister/grandmother?” This is an effort to hopefully make them think, and even realize that these women are real people just like their beloved female family members.
Another way that machismo has manifested is with that of domestic violence. Many women are abused, and One Réspe is working on a program called “New Masculinity.” New masculinity means challenging the traditionally gender roles, and maybe thinking more seriously about what society tells you. They have posters and t-shirts (that all the young children wear at the schools) that have cartoons of a man first asking “Do I hit? (He is wearing boxing gloves)” and then “But only in the tournament (he is posed with his stick figure family).” Another says “Do I clean the bases? (He is carrying a bat and glove)” and then “Or help clean the house? (He is holding a broom).”
Every week One Réspe meets with a men’s group where they discuss their masculinity and what they are limited in and how they learned these roles. It is important to not only educate women in power of their own bodies and will, but also to educate men to challenge masculinity that encourages the subjugation, abuse, and misuse of women. They also meet weekly with a Haitian women’s group (as Farah discussed previously) where they discuss how as women and people of color they are horribly mistreated and marginalized.
Contributed by Ciara
My first husband had the affliction of machismo. I don't believe they even know that it has a name. He was Mexican. My second husband is also Latino..but from Venezeula, a whole different story. He is completely masculine but without that superior attitude thing going on. My first husband called it pride...and yet, it really is nothing to be proud of. It is part of the mexican culture and it distructive.
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