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Pristina Arenas

Dr.Tessa McIntire

Writing 10

10 July 2019

Machismo On Mental Health

Gender roles have been a controversial topic for centuries within our society and varies

throughout cultures. One aspect of gender roles that our society has not focused on is how the role

of machismo has influenced lower-class families. In most Latino cultures, gender roles for both

men and women are implemented at a young age. Young boys are raised to be tough while young

girls are raised to be housewives. At a very premature age, there is this gender expectation both

boys and girls must conform to that leads boys to grow up with this adamant sense of superiority

in a Hispanic household. Focusing on how Machismo also takes a mental toll on child development

will bring light to this emotional phenomena and hopefully push new generations in a different

direction.

Gender roles are very present in such cultural norms these young men grow up with this

social pressure of being viewed as masculine. This can further lead to body insecurity, eating

disorders, anxiety, depression, toxic masculinity and other forms of mental illnesses. Machismo is

a byproduct of stress and insecurity. Because I identify with the latinx/Latino culture, I would

focus on Mexican American traditions. More specifically, I think I would focus on how machismo

effects mental health and from early childhood development to negative ideal transfers. Growing

up with this social pressure can be difficult for young men, especially those who do not conform

to the stigma of a “manly man”. I believe this can be further researched among different cultures
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because toxic hyper masculinity can be found across various traditional cultures, also known as a

cross cultural study (Matsumo). To further my research, I would dive into the effects of domestic

and verbal abuse on child development.

Because this ideal has been around so long, there is no quick fix. The key to igniting the

growth of the latinx community may be through education or other forms of communication.

Mexican women who don't have the education to feel they have to conform to such treatment and

in many cases, these women feel like it is alright (submissive) to be treated the way they are treated.

In the increase of education in lower-income families, this view of machismo would overall change

in cultures that still follow such traditional gender roles. The lack of education in both men and

women that is present among Hispanic cultures can be a blame for the machismo that exists in

these households. I am aware that there are statistics on education including the rate at which latinx

community member pursue higher education. I will look for this data through the census bureau

and other sources (Tamez). Implementing co-education and encouraging higher education,

beginning with low-income families, can greatly change the views of male roles in such

households and overall decrease the need of machismo in our society by encouraging young adults

to have an open mind and format their own notion of gender equality.

Overall these ideas agree that a way to resolve machismo in Latin American cultures is to

get rid of this sense of insecurity that can be implemented since childhood through the prosperity

obtained by education. I consider my audience to be members descendants of Latin cultures while

perhaps focusing on young males amongst newer generations such as within the Latinx

community. Generations amongst families hold different perspectives on machismo. These

individuals must be supported as they refuse to conform to this old tradition and join the fight for

equality. In males, education is essential to get “rid” of this sense of inferiority based? down in
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males in Mexican American cultures. Education to some degree may open men up to use their

emotional reservoir and help them realize that being a man is not someone who uses violence, but

someone who uses their intelligence to get out of unfortunate predicaments. There have been

changes such as the “#itsokaytotalk” movement and the build up of the latinx community that have

begun to revamp gender roles. In order for this new era to make its mark and stick to young minds,

the urge for equality must be spread. Education most importantly allows men to value themselves

as well as women due to their knowledge obtained and the importance of gender equality.
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Citations

Tamez, EG. "Familism, Machismo and Child Rearing Practices Among Mexican

Americans." Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services. 19.9 (1981): 21-5.

Print.

Torres, José B., V. S. Solberg, and Aaron H. Carlstrom. "The Myth of Sameness among

Latino Men and their Machismo." American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, vol. 72, no. 2, 2002, pp.

163-181. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/1038623945?accountid=14515, Formatted: Underline

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.72.2.163.

Matsumoto, David R, and Linda P. Juang. Culture and Psychology. Belmont, CA:

Wadsworth/Thomson, 2008. Print.