The Cultural History of Machismo and the Latino Male in Contemporary Society.
This essay examines the concept of gender behavior known as "machismo," and discusses the cultural and historical contexts for understanding Latino and Hispanic macho masculinity. Machismo can be attributed to early Spanish colonizers in Mexico and in Cuba, and finds its origins in family structures and social status in medieval honor and chivalry. The development of machismo through the cultural changes in Mexico and Cuba have led to a gender oppression that affects women and men, as contemporary machismo often lacks a cultural relevance that can signify the role masculinity plays in Hispanic traditions. 4-pages, bibliography lists 3 sources.
