Friday, January 10, 1997
STANDARDS:
Machistas and Machos are put to the test; find out which one you
should be
I must preface this by saying that I love men  men in the
definition that I will describe.
Every culture has set expectations of the genders. In today’s
ever-changing world, women’s increased independence and
participation in the workplace is not only changing women’s roles
but men’s as well. Male roles are being redefined.
Although machismo, macho and machista all relate to masculinity,
they are not the same. These words all attempt to define another
word  man  but vary in their meanings. I offer what I
have been taught and what I believe to be a man. I humbly submit
the Jaliscience, and specifically the Guzman-Espinoza (but more
Espinoza) definition of manhood. While Latinos are well known for
being macho, we have in no way cornered the market. These ideals
exist in many cultures, in one way or another.
MACHISMO
There’s a funny thing about Mexicans and their love of
dichotomies. I suppose that’s what happens when two worlds collide
and people try to make sense of the cultural rubble: black and
white, indigenous and Spanish, virgin and whore, Macho and
Machista. In the same way that there is a cult of femininity,
Marianismo, there is a cult of masculinity, Machismo.
Machismo, in the dictionary, is described as an exaltation of
masculinity: "he-man worship" or a hypermasculinity. It is from
this ideology, not necessarily good or bad by itself, that the
ideals of Machos and Machistas spring. Marianismo and Machismo
offer rigid definitions for gender roles that are often
complimentary. In their extreme, they demand for passive women and
domineering men.
In their best sense, they are like the yin and yang,
complimentary but each containing aspects of the other. In it’s
most positive representation, a woman would be soft and loving on
the outside, while strong at her core, and a man would be strong on
the outside and tender at the core. Women as nurturing, men as
protectors. This creates a balance in society.
My opinion is highly influenced not only by my cultural heritage
as a Mexican, but more specifically by the region of Mexico from
which my family originates. I am from the central state of Jalisco.
This area is known not only for its tequila, mariachi music and
folkloric dance costume, but for its beautiful women and its virile
men. Jaliscience men are Machos in the best sense of the word. They
say that Jalisciences are buried "with their boots on." It is a
hypermasculinity which demands an audience, at the charreada
(rodeo), on the playing field or wherever. Media portrayals of
Latino males, although sometimes Macho, are more often Machista.
There is a difference.
I will present these as extreme examples in order to illustrate
the two ends of the spectrum. I realize that there are shades of
grey, and that real-life men lie somewhere along the continuum. I
know that few men are as evil or as saintly as my examples.
MACHOS and MACHISTAS
One defining characteristic of masculinity is sexuality. As
sexual freedom and control is taken away from women, males within
the Latino culture receive sexual privilege. Machos recognize this
privilege, but do not take what is not given, nor do they sleep
with every women that provides an opportunity. Machistas expect
sexual favors as their right. They treat all women as whores.
Machistas rape. Machistas molest.
Machistas are the men who cheat on their wives and keep
mistresses on the side. These men father illegitimate children and
refuse to claim economic responsibility. Yet they boast of these
children as signs of fertility and manliness. A Macho is a good
husband and a good father. A Macho respects his wife, remains
faithful, and does not dishonor his children. A Machista thinks his
penis makes him a man. A Macho is a man.
These male ideals also differ in the ways they embody strength
and power. Power means having ability  the ability to beat a
woman who is smaller and weaker, the ability to beat a child. It
means having control over others. Power can be abused. This is what
happens when Machistas beat their wives, their children, and abuse
and manipulate.
Strength, on the other hand, means not only having power but
also having the ability to refrain from abusing power. A man has
the power to beat his wife, but also the strength not to do so. A
Macho has the ability to whip his children, but he relies on other
ways to discipline them. A man will cultivate their respect and not
rely on their fear of him. A Macho is strong in every sense of the
word, whereas a Machista is a coward who relies on physical
strength and abuses power.
Another aspect of Jaliscience Machos is their lack of emotion.
Men don’t cry. This is seen as a sign of weakness. I understand the
reasoning behind this. I have never seen my father cry, and I never
want to. I used to think that he was cold.
But then I realized that if my father cried, it would mean that
all was lost. That there was no hope. I don’t want to live without
hope. I think I’ll always want my Dad to be that wall between me
and anything bad that could happen.
Macho men have a stoic cool. Like an ancient Greek warrior, he
is enduring. Macho fathers are gentle tyrants. Strict but fair,
yielding when an indulgence is harmless. They show their love in
different ways  through actions, not words. A Macho is
kind-hearted, loving, and, in more private moments, tender.
A Machista cries when he’s drunk. A Machista is really a
grown-up child  a boy, a guy who is irresponsible,
manipulative and egotistical. He is disrespectful. He lies. A
Machista is self-centered and selfish. A Macho, a man, is above all
things respectful, considerate and honest. He is noble, a good
friend and loyal.
A Machista will exalt his masculinity, brag about the size of
his penis or how many women he’s slept with because he thinks this
makes him a man. A Macho will do none of these things. His
masculinity does not need to be exalted. A man does not need to
prove his masculinity. It is apparent and recognizable in every
word and every action.
Oh, you might think these standards are high, but I have known
enough Machos not to think so: my father, my maternal grandfather
and other members of my family. They aren’t perfect, but they are
men.
My brother is still a guy  still cocky in his
6-foot-2-inch, 17-year-old strength. My brother is more Machista
now than Macho, but don’t worry, we’re working on him. He holds
promise, and that’s all I care about.
Obviously, I’ve presented this as a black and white issue, when
in reality it is a process. Some men will always be Machistas or
the equivalent. Some men are born Machos. Most are still somewhere
in between. But at least they are on their way there. I’m glad to
say I’ve actually met some men and men-in-training at UCLA Â
J. Cortez, C. Gonzales, H. Guttierrez, D. Zarza, D. Holmes, B.
Jackson and two freshmen who should know who they are. There are
others who would be surprised to know how highly I think of them
and many well on their way to being men.
I told you what I think; how do you measure up? Are you Macho or
Machista? What are your standards?