My final project was, in short about the Latin phenomenon known as machismo. I think I definitely came into the project from a very one-sided and angry perspective. The perspective of a woman who has been effected by machismo in mostly memorably negative ways. However, upon starting my research, I decided to look at it from a different perspective, mostly out of curiosity but also because i realized that a lot of my work already deals with a female perspective on various subjects. So I looked at it from a “How does it effect them?” (them being Latino males) rather than looking at it as “How does it effect me?” perspective.
From this outlook, I found out how much factors into this lifestyle or trait. There are many separate aspects of it and because those aspects are so wildly different – they have different names, but continue to fall under the umbrella term machismo. I also came to the realization that females can contribute to the engraining of this mentality into both sexes. That women should cater to men and men be the head of the household. It most definitely isn’t an issue that is one sided, it’s an issues that is very deep rooted in and projected onto the customs and expectations of both sexes.
Machismo, through its various connotations, is more than just a word. It is a a belief that has become completely imbedded in Latinx/Hispanic society throughout its construction in time.
Though the term machismo is an important concept describing male behavior in Latinx culture, it has yet to be defined in a way that encompasses its’ duality. Generally, concepts focus on a restrictive and critical view of hypermasculinity. However, it seems that these idealized portrayals of masculinity are in their rawest form — masks.
These masks work as extensions of the male psyche. They are animated by lovers, family members, friends and all of society alike. They are only valid to the people they are being showcased to and not necessarily expressive of the true identity of the person wearing them. They are outfits to be paraded and later disgarded. They are not absolute. They are drapery of societal constructs. They are the obstruction of the growth of the Latin male identity.
I’d have to say that out of all of the projects I completed this year – this would have to be the one that I grew the most from and with. It was emotional for me, to say the least. It came into existence at a time when I was dealing heavily with the male figures in my life and figuring out how those relationships have effected me. This tied into my purpose of modeling the figuresI drew after my family members. It was heartbreaking to see how well they played into these roles or wore these stereotypical Latin male masks. In most cases, it was through no fault of their own – they were just modeling what had been modeled to them. They were embodying the characteristics that our culture deemed fit for them.
In conclusion, I’ve learned that machismo is by no means a black and white issue. It’s grey to the bone and something that I’ve only just begun exploring.
