Machismo: The Traits and Impact of Traditional Masculinity

Machismo describes a strong or exaggerated sense of manliness; an assumptive attitude that virility, courage, strength, and entitlement to dominate are attributes or concomitants of masculinity.1

Stemming from the Spanish word “macho,”2 Machismo is a social construction of masculinity common across Latin American and Spanish culture that maps out how men should engage with their gender based on virility, courage, strength, and power. 

The assumptive nature of Machismo is traditionally ingrained in men throughout Latinx cultures and impacts how they behave, speak and interact with others and their role in their household and society.

What Is Machismo Behavior?

Machismo encompasses positive and negative aspects of masculinity including bravery, honor, dominance, aggression, sexism, sexual prowess, and reserved emotions.2

History of Machismo 

It's believed that these strict gender roles, like marianismo (the opposite of machismo and directs how women should behave) are a result of Christian influence during the colonization of Latin America2

The word itself has only been in popular use since the early 20th century.3

What Are Examples of Machismo?

Machismo culture is multidimensional. At its worst and most collectively understood, Machismo enforces toxic masculinity.

Dominance Is Seen as a Admirable Trait

Men are taught that they need to exercise their power through dominance because they are men. They can work hard and provide monetarily for their family, and as a result of fulfilling this role as a breadwinner, can treat their spouses however they wish.

Bravery Is a Positive Attribute—Until It's Not

Machismo culture is most widely understood as a 'culture of toxicity,' but not every originating value of Machismo is inherently inexcusable. To be brave is not an inherently harmful virtue. Brave people are often looked upon with reverence across societies, stories, and traditions. 

How Machismo Contributes to a Violent Society

Machismo at its worst assumes that violence toward women and LGBTQIA+ people is excusable. It’s widely documented that Machismo contributes to femicide (the murder of women because they are women), homophobia, and domestic violence, issues that are pervasive across Latin America and traditional LatinX communities. 

The Murder of Women

In separate data released by the Mexican government and reported by The Institute for Economics and Peace, in Mexico, “the incidence of femicide, or the murder of a woman for gender-based reasons, has risen significantly in recent years, from 427 reported victims in 2015 to 1,004 in 2021, marking a 135 percent increase.”5

Femicide is not exclusive just to Brazil and Mexico. It can be seen across Latin American countries, with more than 30 countries implementing laws against domestic violence.6According to the United Nations, the region houses 14 of the 25 countries with the highest rate of femicide in the world.7

Discrimination and Violence Against the LGBTQIA+ Community

Machismo does not just perpetuate femicide, it also leads to documented prejudice against LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Since Machismo provides an outline of hyper-masculine character traits (which traditionally perpetuates the homophobic narrative that heterosexual marriage is the only form of marriage), Machismo men are not likely to engage with, respect, or entertain LGBTQIA+ identities.8 

Aggressive Behavior

Aggression, as a trademark of Machismo, can be deadly for anyone who is not a cis-hetero male in Latin American countries and even in some Latinx communities in the United States if and where Machismo is upheld. 

Machismo and Its Opposite—Marianismo 

Where Machismo encompasses various aspects of masculinity and assigns a constructed view of how men should act, it also upholds attitudinal beliefs about the role of women.

In traditional Machismo culture, women are seen as homemakers. They are to be wives and mothers who cook, clean the house, and take care of the children. 

Machismo and Marianismo Create Strict LatinX Gender Roles

Machismo’s existence is symbiotic with Marianismo.10The two are co-existing social constructs about gender roles, with Marianismo perpetuating the idea of a woman as a homemaker, mother and caretaker of the family.

How Machismo Impacts Mental Health

Machismo has been found to be related to increased levels of depression and stress among men. With restrictive emotionality acting as a key characteristic of Machismo, men are not taught that their emotions are real, valid, or worthy of being expressed.

Machismo Perpetuates Mental Health Stigma in LatinX Culture

The perpetuation of Machismo contributes to the prevailing stigma against seeking therapy or mental health services in the Latinx community. Machismo, although multidimensional in nature, historically creates a toxic environment for all, including those looking to grow up in a more progressive, mentally healthy household.

A Word From Verywell

It's important to note that not all those of LatinX origin perpetuate the toxic aspects of machismo culture. However, if you find that you're struggling with depression or another mental health issue, it's OK to open up and be vulnerable and ask for help.

You can rely on a support system that you trust or speak with a mental health professional who is culturally sensitive and understands how LatinX culture impacts the perception of mental health.

LatinX Therapy has an extensive directory of LatinX therapists. The directory includes Spanish-speaking therapists of varying genders and nationalities so there's a good chance you'll find someone who you will feel comfortable with.