Mexican Machismo: Politics and Value Orientations

Abstract

HIS IS ONE of most explicit statements to be found concerning widespread phenomenon which appears under many guises in personality systems and social systems of Latin American countries. To Latin Americans themselves, this phenomenon is known as machismo; it is all about them and is as familiar as air they breathe. Foreign observers call it the cult of virility, and almost anyone who has lived for time in Latin America includes its many manifestations in list of distinguishing characteristics of region. Passing mention has been made of subject by investigators,2 but search of social science literature fails to reveal full-scale treatment of it. One of most recently published books in English has this to say: . . considerable emphasis is placed by most observers on role of machismo in Mexican culture. Described in different ways by different writers, concept almost invariably projects picture of aggressive male protagonist, alone and withdrawn constantly preoccupied with image he is conveying, constantly concerned to create impression of masculinity and courage, invulnerability and indifference to attacks of others. 3 Ramos notes that Mexicans equate virility with exaggerated aggressiveness and with intransigence. Faced with threat, Mexican male will often react by shouting, I am (gesticulating toward his external genitalia), and will impute feminine characteristics to his adversary. Mexican novels and films abound in references to machismo; most notably in latter category, El Sietemachos and Animas Trujano come to mind. Octavio Paz's The Labyrinth of Solitude (New York: Grove Press, 1962) is powerful literary treatment of same theme. In an attempt to get some feeling for Mexican ethos, one investigator recently undertook small-scale survey and concluded that salient hero type is a man who is muy macho (strong, virile, valiente, stubborn, fuerte) ... described

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