“The Myth of Machismo: An Everyday Reality For Latin Women”

Machismo has been on my mind lately, and so while doing some cultural research I came accross this great article in the St. Thomas Law Review, published Thursday, June 26, 2003.

Machismo: An Everyday Reality

I also discovered Marianismo

Marianismo is the inverse or female equivalent of Machismo in Latin American folk culture, that is it is the embodiment of the feminine rather than the masculine. It is the cult of feminine superiority. Evelyn Stevens states: “it teaches that women are semi divine, morally superior to and spiritually stronger than men.”[1] The ideas within marianismo are that of feminine passivity and sexual purity, but are not exclusive to these ideas. There is power in marianismo that stems from the female ability to produce life. This term supposedly derives from Catholic beliefs of Mary as both a virgin and a madonna.”

I never even realized there was a term for this idealization of women in the Latin community.
The Maria Paradox by Rosa Maria Gill and Carmen Inoa Vasquez, I’m adding this one to my booklist right now!

Spread the love

More Articles for You

Puerto Rican Porridges: Maizena, Harina de Maíz, and the Comfort of the Boricua Breakfast

A personal and cultural essay on Puerto Rican porridges, including silky maizena, avena and harina de maíz recipes with cinnamon, fresh ginger, and dried orange rind, plus lactose-free options.

Spread the love

Yesteryear and the Problem of “This Moment” Fiction

Disclosure: I received a complimentary advance review copy of Yesteryear. As always, receiving a galley does not influence my opinions. …

Spread the love

42 of the Best Feminist Rage Books and Feminist Theory Books to Read Right Now

I have been seeing a lot of requests for feminist rage books lately, and I understand why. We are living …

Spread the love

Resilience Is Too Often a Word Used for People the System Has Exhausted

Puerto Rico is often noted for its resilience, but “resilience” can be a dangerous word. It can turn endurance into …

Spread the love

Basque, Portuguese & Noble Families of Puerto Rico: The European Roots You Didn’t Learn About

Explore how Basque, Portuguese, and noble European families shaped Puerto Rico’s southern towns (like Ponce) through surnames, migration paths, and hidden ancestral histories.

Spread the love

Puerto Rican Surnames with Taíno & African Roots: Origins in Ponce, Juana Díaz & the Southern Highlands

Many of the names we still see today (Montalvo, Negrón, Fontanes, Rivera, Chamorro, Zapata, Maldonado) carry the intertwined legacies of Taíno survivors, Africans and European migrants who moved through the island. This guide unravels those lineages with care.

Spread the love