The Machismo and Marianismo Tango

By Dr. David Sequeira

Machismo, the male ideal so specific to Hispanic culture, is complemented by its corollary marianismo, the female ideal. Both are examined in this careful study, along with the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that so often accompanies-and, in fact, overhangs-the lives of the women who have survived the abuse that machismo too often inflicts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BlueInk Media Solutions
• Release date: Apr 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9781641338110

Dr. David Sequeira

Dr. David Sequeira, a United States citizen since 1975, was born in Nakuru (Kenya), East Africa, and attended high school in Goa, India (old Portuguese colony), where his parents were from. His A.A. is from St. Francis de Sales College, Nagpur, and his B.Ph. is from Papal Athaneum, Poona, both in India. Dr. Sequeira went on to earn his S.T.L. licensate in theology at Catholic University of Fribourg, Switzerland; his M.A. at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles; and his Ph.D. in clinical and social psychology at Wright Institute of Los Angeles. He stayed on in southern California, where he now lives and works as a clinical psychologist.As a missionary in Brazil, Dr. Sequeira noted that among other machismo characteristics, most local men visited prostitutes and this was tacitly accepted by their wives and children. ''I found this very odd,'' he says, ''and I decided to write my dissertation on machismo in Hispanic culture.''The dissertation was accepted with the proviso that it not be published; the dean, who was Hispanic, ''did not like what I had written.'' Now, with the addition of much new information on the parallel culture of marianismo, that original study is presented in this book.

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The Machismo and Marianismo Tango

Copyright © 2024 by Dr. David Sequeira. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

The contents of this work, including, but not limited to, the accuracy of events, people, and places depicted; opinions expressed; permission to use previously published materials included; and any advice given or actions advocated are solely the responsibility of the author, who assumes all liability for said work and indemnifies the publisher against any claims stemming from publication of the work.

ISBN 978-1-64133-811-0 (e)

2024.04.08

BlueInk Media Solutions

1111B S Governors Ave

STE 7582 Dover,

DE 19904

www.blueinkmediasolutions.com

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to all those patients who placed their trust in me by laying bare their wounded selves and being an inspiration and encouragement in the completion of this work. They have been my teachers as well as my patients. And to my Hispanic clients who have helped and encouraged me in this project.

PREFACE

It was in the late sixties and early seventies, while I was working in Brazil, that I first became interested in the topic of this book. I worked for a year in Sao Paulo and four years in Cacador, in the State of Santa Catarina.

While I spent the four years in Cacador, I was struck by the fact that most of the males frequented what the people called kilometro seis, a location which was situated six kilometers from the town. It was a red-light district. It was not only the middle and lower socio economic-status men who frequented this district. Even directors of the banks and other establishments visited these ladies of the night. The most ominous aspect was that their wives and children knew and tolerated it. I found out that this had continued for many generations and was tacitly accepted to avoid fights and disagreements. The women were accustomed to this type of treatment.

The other thing that bothered me was that when I arranged a dance for the young men and women, the boys would not dance with the girls before they had two or three beers under their belts to reduce their shyness and give them the courage to dance with the girls. Once the boys took the girls to the dance floor, they lifted their dresses or touched them inappropriately. I was obliged to hire two strong men to help me when the situation went out of control. The dance in this town usually lasted till four or five in the morning. The fascination of this topic impelled me to write my dissertation on it.

The title of my dissertation was How machismo was related to alcoholism among the Hispanics.

The dean of the faculty was a Puerto Rican and she did not agree with some of the things I had written, although the committee of my dissertation had approved it. To earn my doctorate, I had to sign an agreement that I would never publish my dissertation. After many years, I have decided to amplify the topic by adding marianismo and how to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder; as many of my female Hispanic patients suffer from it and unfortunately are not diagnosed correctly and as a consequence are not treated adequately. I am greatly indebted to them for enabling me to clarify my understanding of their culture.

Machismo pervades every aspect of the Spanish society-the form of government, sports, family life, etc. It is my ardent desire that those of you who peruse these pages, opportunities will open to understand the real meaning of machismo and marianismo, their background, and how to overcome their dreadful consequences. Their spirit, it is hoped, will be alive and well and open to the new challenges of our day and some day it will dawn on them that good has come out of it after all.

INTRODUCTION

The Hispanic population in the United States is growing rapidly and will soon become the largest minority, surpassing the African-American population. The nation’s Hispanic population reached 41.3 million as of July 1, 2004, according to the United States Census Bureau. It is expected that this population will increase to 97 million by 2050. This increase is the result of the high volume of immigrants from south of the Rio Grande and their fertility. Hispanic immigrants have birth rates twice as high as those of the rest of the United States population. Although they reside principally in the East and Southwest, they are now spreading to other parts of the country.

In 2002, there were 37.4 million Hispanics in the United States. Among them, two thirds (66.9 percent) were of Mexican origin; 14.3 percent were from Central and South America; 8.6 percent were Puerto Rican; 3.7 percent were Cuban; and the remaining 6.5 percent were of other Hispanic origins.

Here are some important highlights regarding the Hispanic population as presented by Charmine Llagas (2003):

The Hispanic population is younger, on average, than the population overall.

Much of the recent rise in minority enrollment in elementary and secondary schools may be attributed to the growth in the number of Hispanic students.

Hispanic students have retention and suspension/expulsion rates that are higher than those of Whites, but lower than those of Blacks.

The birth rates of Hispanic females ages 15 to 19 are higher than those of females from other racial/ethnic groups.

Thus, we see that the Hispanics are relatively young, not as highly educated, and concentrated in high cost regions, such as California and New York.

Latinos are the second largest ethnic group in the labor force 13 percent. They are less educated and less experienced than other workers. Most of the migrants have little trouble finding work. Many are paid at minimum-wage levels or below, and it is not uncommon for these workers to experience long spells of unemployment. Migrants are concentrated in the same handful of industries like agriculture, hospitality, construction, and manufacturing (Passel, 2006).

Beginning in early adolescence, Latinos and Native Americans lead the nation in alcohol and illicit drug use. Among the factors believed to contribute to alcoholism in Hispanic cultures are machismo the concept of manly strength and dominance that includes the attitude that a man should be able to drink without showing the effects, stress of transition from the native culture to the