Overview

In Mexican culture, demanding gender roles influence the lives of Mexican men in the workplace, crime, and relationships[1][2][3]. Mexican masculinity, or machismo, is often recognized for comprising qualities of hyper-masculinity, aggression, and dominance[3]. The research demonstrated in literature, film, psychology, and sociology, illustrates that the portrayals of traditional masculine roles in society and culture have negative impacts on the behaviour of Mexican males who take on this identity[1][3][4]. The traditional machismo role has a profound effect on Mexican males in Mexico and America, leading to increased rates in crime, violence, and substance abuse[1][2].

The reconstruction of gender roles in Mexican culture, due to American immigration and cultural influence in Hollywood, helps develop a role with more positive characteristics which is called Caballerismo[4]. Caballerismo is characterized by the male's responsibility to provide for their families, which comprises qualities such as honour, dedication, and hard work[3]. Caballerismo, or the contemporary version of machismo, is associated with positive attributes that show implications for decreasing the social stigma of Mexican aggression, violence, and hyper-masculinity[3].

This page will assess how the American culture and lifestyle has evolved the Mexican male role from traditional to contemporary, and how this influences the levels of crime and violence in Mexican men. The behaviours, attitudes, and levels of aggression studied in Mexican men in Mexico and America depend on their perception of their role as corresponding to machismo or caballerismo. The implications of Mexican portrayals in society and media uncovers the correlation of negative or positive behaviour traits with traditional or contemporary cultural influences.

The Traditional Machismo

The causes and influences of traditional Mexican gender roles are subject to debate among sociologists and historians. Some studies show that hyper-masculine gender roles date back to the Spanish Conquest when men were praised for strength and superiority amid conflict (Kulis, Marsiglia, Hurdle 171)[1]. Historians speculate that gender roles in Mexico are shaped by a history of Spanish Colonization, war, and conflict that have ultimately influenced Latino men to perceive their role as dominant, assertive, and aggressive over women[3]. These roles represented in media and culture have effects on the behaviours of Mexican men, most of which in the traditional role become abusive behaviours.

Violence, Crime, and Substance Abuse

Studies suggest that there is a link between socialized gender roles and substance use. Males' use of drugs and alcohol is more socially accepted than female counterparts (Kulis, Marsiglia, Hurdle 168)[1]. When Mexican men are taught to be dominant and are raised in their culture or by their parents to have hyper-masculine personality traits, this correlates to higher uses of aggression linked to substance use (Kulis, Marsiglia, Hurdle 168)[1]. Latino men report earlier cases of cigarette and marijuana use, leading to subsequent use of heroin and cocaine (Kulis, Marsiglia, Hurdle 170)[1]. These results of the statistics showcase a relationship between negative behaviour traits and traditional cultural influence.

Substance abuse and the prominence of traditional masculine roles are also linked to more cases of aggression and violent behaviours in relationships (Kulis, Marsiglia, Hurdle 171)[1]. Intimate partner violence is more likely to be committed by Mexican males in America, caused by the culture behind machismo, acculturation, and drug use (Mancera, Dorgo, & Provencio-Vasquez, 969)[2]. Mexican participants in a study on intimate partner violence elaborated that the negative stigma associated with machismo and violent behaviour is apparent because of the societal pressure Mexican men feel to play into the role or face the consequences of guilt and shame (Bibiana 1786)[5].

The Contemporary Caballerismo

The adapted version of the Mexican gender role for men includes more stress and significance on family responsibility, honour, and respect (Kulis, Marsiglia, Hurdle 171)[1]. This adaptation of the traditional role is influenced by the change to contemporary culture and depictions of men, as well as the immigration of men to America in which they adapt their traditional roles to accommodate new lifestyles (Cohen 95)[5]. Depictions of Mexican men in media and film correspond with the caballerismo role as opposed to the traditional role, therefore influencing Mexican viewers to internalize this version of masculinity, as a man working hard labour to provide for their family against the economic odds[4].

Masculinity in the Workplace

Immigrant Mexican workers in America often find themselves in industries such as agriculture, labour, and construction, which are suited to their skills and trades. However, as they come to America where they work in positions that traditionally oppose their gender roles, such as learning to cook and live among other male coworkers, their gender roles are accommodated to take on these new roles[5].

Mexicans living in rural areas hold rigid beliefs of their gender role until their identities become challenged in new environments in America and require adaption to fulfill new cultural expectations in workplaces (Ramirez 100)[6]. The Mexican men who come from these rural areas lead to an increase in Latino men in industries such as gardening and car washing that amplify masculine interactions[6].

Gardening, trades, and car washing are sex-segregated workplaces that allow Mexican males to continue certain traditional behaviours such as drinking and male dominance[5]. However, Mexican immigrants are also learning to adopt new values such as honour in their work, responsibility for the family, and respect for women (Ramirez 460)[6]. The working American lifestyle catalyzes the acceptance of new identities to their traditional masculine role, enabled by new familial and economic responsibilities in contemporary lifestyles.

Masculinity in Hollywood

Depictions of Hispanic men in Hollywood Cinema are often complacent with the stereotype of unqualified immigrant workers. This stereotype is apparent in films such as Amores Perros, Friends with Money, and Arrested Development, in which the Mexican characters portray a similar movie character, one that is an illegal labour worker that contrasts their white bourgeoisie costars[4]. This role depicts Mexicans as struggling in the new American lifestyle and overcoming the barriers alongside the American protagonist that contrasts their struggle with success and freedom. This repeated depiction influences the Mexican role as more Mexicans immigrate to America and focus their priorities on taking care of their families as opposed to dominating their partners.

The stereotypical hyper-masculine portrayal of machismo is becoming less prevalent in media and less influential on current Mexicans and Mexican-Americans as demonstrated in Amores Perros[4]. In Amores Perros, the Mexican man does not take on the traditional role of masculinity but instead showcases as a provider that must accommodate new routines and needs (Amaya 204)[4]. Cultural representations of Mexican males in film showcase the economic struggles of unemployment that have changed the traditional role of a contemporary depiction of masculinity.

These films emphasize depictions of Mexican males as a struggling worker and provider for their family, playing a role in influencing a transformation of Mexican masculinity. These character portrayals are deferring traditional hyper-masculine tendencies, focusing on economic struggles as an illegal immigrant, contributing to the increasing presence of caballerismo identities.

References

Amaya, H. "Amores Perros and Racialized Masculinities in Contemporary Mexico". New Cinemas: Journal of Contemporary Film v. 5, n. 3, 2007. p. 201–216.^[4]
Arciniegra, G. M. et al. "Toward a Fuller Conception of Machismo: Development of a Traditional Machismo and Caballerismo Scale." Journal of Counseling Psychology,, v. 55, n. 1,2008. p. 19–33,. ^[3]
Deborah. “From Peasant to Worker: Migration, Masculinity, and the Making of Mexican Workers in the US.” International Labor and Working-Class History, vol. 69, no. 1, 2006, pp. 81–103.^[5]
Kulis, S., Marsiglia, F.F. and Hurdle, D, "Gender Identity, Ethnicity, Acculturation, and Drug use: Exploring Differences Among Adolescents in the Southwest." J. Community Psychology, 2003, 167-188.^[1]
Mancera, Bibiana M et al. “Reflections of Men of Mexican Origin: A Grounded Theory Study of Intimate Partner Violence Risk Factors.” American Journal of Men's Health, 2018. pp. 1784-1798.^[2]
Ramirez, Hernan. “Masculinity in the Workplace: The Case of Mexican Immigrant Gardeners.” Men and Masculinities, vol. 14, no. 1, Apr. 2011, pp. 97–116^[6]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Gender identity, ethnicity, acculturation, and drug use: Exploring Differences Among Adolescents in the Southwest". Community Psychology. Summer 2020.
1 2 3 4 "Reflections of Men of Mexican Origin: A Grounded Theory Study of Intimate Partner Violence Risk Factors". American Journal of Men's Health.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Toward a Fuller Conception of Machismo: Development of a Traditional Machismo and Caballerismo Scale". Journal of Counseling Psychology.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Amaya, Hernan (Summer 2020). "Amores Perros and Racialized Masculinities in Contemporary Mexico". New Cinemas: Journal of Contemporary Film. 5: 201–216.
1 2 3 4 5 Deborah (Summer 2020). "From Peasant to Worker: Migration, Masculinity, and the Making of Mexican Workers in the US". International Labor and Working-Class History.
1 2 3 4 Hernan, Ramirez (Summer 2020). "Masculinity in the Workplace: The Case of Mexican Immigrant Gardeners". Men and Masculinites.