Who Said Mexican Culture Isn't Machismo?

[Athena]

Seriously, I'm asking. Is that a conversation we had here? I remember a conversation about it. Could have been somewhere else, though.

Mexico's efforts to end violence against women stymied by macho culture
By Franco Ordonez, McClatchy Newspapers
Tue May 13, 4:08 PM ET

MEXICO CITY — Martha couldn't take the beatings anymore. She visited local police three times last year to report that her husband was punching her in the stomach so hard she could barely breathe. Each time, the police told her they could do nothing unless she returned with cuts and bruises.

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Discouraged and fearful, Martha, 43, who asked that her last name not be published for fear of retribution from her husband, in March packed some clothes and left. She's lived with three different relatives since.

"There were times I didn't want to wake up," she said, crying. "I wanted it to stop. I wanted to die."

Every day thousands of Mexican women suffer physical and psychological abuse at the hands of their spouses, despite a federal law passed over a year ago to protect them. Nearly one-third of the country's 31 states still haven't adopted the law, which requires Mexican law enforcement to punish acts of violence against women. Even where the law has been adopted, it's not being applied, say legislators and activists.

That's because, despite an official push to move beyond the cliche image of macho, Mexico is still very much a man's world when it comes to violence against women.

Continued article
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So, I bring this up because, I was once accused of being racist when talking about the aggressiveness in which Mexicans tend to hit on women. My response was that we can recognize cultural differences without being racist. Mexicans just so happen to have a rather machismo culture. ^Here's my proof. :p

[Rotten Apple]

Fucking Mexicans!!!!!

I hate those bean eating bastards!

[TheMorningStar]

Que bruto!

[dop]

Yea, Mexico in some states is a very macho oriented culture and domestic violence and discrimination towards women is a fucking huge problem... its still ages from becoming a real equal oportunity country, no doubt there.

[swivel]

What sort of racist tripe is this bullshit I'm reading in "Three Things"?

[Rotten Apple]

What sort of racist tripe is this bullshit I'm reading in "Three Things"?

What the hell? You into field rats or something?

If those taco benders don't stop coming over here and lusting after our wholesome American white women, I may have to sit at the border and pick off a few of those border bunnies myself.

[Rotten Apple]

Ok, since I killed this thread I'm gonna try to bring it back to life and talk seriously.

There is nothing there I don't agree with.

Unfortunately, I don't think that Mexicans are the only culture guilty of this.

All cultures where women are seen as second class citizens or property are guilty of this same thing - especially if the government or law enforcement never intervenes for them.

It is no secret that alot of Mexico does not see women as equals to men. Just look at all the unsolved murders of the women in Juarez.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/amnestynow/juarez.html

[Athena]

Oh, sure, there are lots of cultures that objectify women. I think, what makes people so touchy about Mexico is that, a.) they're right next door and people can't understand how they can be so close but so different and b.) that, to an extent, it carries over with the immigrant population here. I guess some people feel like generally classifying Mexican-Americans as machismo is like generally classifying blacks as lazy or something. Of course, the difference is, one classification is founded in truth.

[Rotten Apple]

I guess some people feel like generally classifying Mexican-Americans as machismo is like generally classifying blacks as lazy or something. Of course, the difference is, one classification is founded in truth.

See that is where I am confused. If you were talking about Mexicans being more aggressive when they hit on women, I was assuming you were talking about MEXICANS not Mexican-Americans.

This article is clearly talking about Mexico, not the States.

Mexican-Americans in general, as citizens of the United states and unless they are newly emigrated, have pretty much assimilated to the American Laws and culture.

If you are finding Hispanics that are more macho, I believe that needs to be credited to individual characteristics and family dynamics, not their race.

Mexico is different in that women are not always protected...especially in poor rural areas. The men act this way because they CAN.

[Death Angel]

ouch i guess some of you don't like Mexicans O_O

1 Corinthians 14:34
Let your women keep silence in the congregstions: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

thats kinda how it is.. with MOST MEXICO Mexicans. its alot different here im Mexican i wanted to be a cop for womans rights cause i would hear things about womans getting beat up and it would kick my ass cause i was so mad... but they said i was too fat

[Rotten Apple]

DA, it was a joke. I'm chicana...and dop is Mexican living in Mexico.

(I keep forgetting that some of the newer members don't realize that. Sorry. :o )

[TheLittleFriend]

1 Corinthians 14:34
Let your women keep silence in the congregstions: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

No wonder bible-thumping people treat bible like dogma.

[Rotten Apple]

... but they said i was too fat

BTW, its not FAT, its Fluffy.

And can we help it if tacos de frijoles fritos en tortillas de arena are the most delicious things in the world?

One thing us Mexicans know is, lard and bacon make everything taste better. :D

[Athena]

See that is where I am confused. If you were talking about Mexicans being more aggressive when they hit on women, I was assuming you were talking about MEXICANS not Mexican-Americans.

This article is clearly talking about Mexico, not the States.

Mexican-Americans in general, as citizens of the United states and unless they are newly emigrated, have pretty much assimilated to the American Laws and culture.

If you are finding Hispanics that are more macho, I believe that needs to be credited to individual characteristics and family dynamics, not their race.

Mexico is different in that women are not always protected...especially in poor rural areas. The men act this way because they CAN.

Yeah, I should have clarified. I'm referring to immigrant Mexicans. This is quite obviously a bi-product of Hispanic culture, certainly not race.

The article does specifically talk about Mexico, but it's addressing an aspect of their culture. Because of this, I don't think it's unreasonable to state that the machismo element is more prevalent in Mexican-American (immigrant) culture than it is in general American culture. Of course, this can be said of any immigrant population in America. These populations retain elements of their cultures, good and bad. It generally dissolves quickly with every generation (and sometimes, dissolves before then).

I guess, my original point was, I've never caught flack mentioning the fact that Asians are detail oriented or Pacific Islanders are very exclusive, etc., but someone did take offense once when I referred to Hispanics as being machismo. I don't think it's wrong to observe and recognize cultural differences which translate into life in America.

[Death Angel]

No wonder bible-thumping people treat bible like dogma.

i learn both being an asshole and a bible thumper at the same time to defend my self from both :D see cause at first i was going to just put up that quote and a picture but i wanted to be nice but MOST (which i edited in my last post) Mexicans from Mexico do hit womans and it gives Mexicans like us here a bad name.

[Athena]

One thing us Mexicans know is, lard and bacon make everything taste better. :D

So, that's it! :p

I can get my ex to eat any veggie, so long as I sautee it in butter and bacon. He's supposedly German, Irish and Scottish (although his ethnicity does not account for the tan he gets during the summer), but he grew up in Guadalupe, AZ.

The racial makeup of the town was 17.46% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 44.19% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 31.22% from other races, and 5.72% from two or more races. 72.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

[Rotten Apple]

I guess, my original point was, I've never caught flack mentioning the fact that Asians are detail oriented or Pacific Islanders are very exclusive, etc., but someone did take offense once when I referred to Hispanics as being machismo. I don't think it's wrong to observe and recognize cultural differences which translate into life in America.

That is because machismo is seen as a negative trait. No one is going to like being lumped into that category.

[Athena]

That is because machismo is seen as a negative trait. No one is going to like being lumped into that category.

I could totally see that...If the person who had taken issue was Hispanic. :p

See, that's the funny thing about living in Seattle. If you talk openly about ethnic stereotypes or cultural differences, it seems people of those particular ethnicities are much less likely to disagree with you than the random white dude listening in.

[Nell]

Ok, got here late but I thanked Kathy because I knew it was a joke and I am the white girl who keeps having kids with those sexy mexicans, much to my fathers dipleasure!:p

[Rotten Apple]

I could totally see that...If the person who had taken issue was Hispanic. :p

See, that's the funny thing about living in Seattle. If you talk openly about ethnic stereotypes or cultural differences, it seems people of those particular ethnicities are much less likely to disagree with you than the random white dude listening in.

Ah, I see! Those "let's all love one another" types of people.

Yeah, I hate them. :p

If they invite you to a "tickle pajama party" DON'T go.

Just sayin'.

[Athena]

Ah, I see! Those "let's all love one another" types of people.

Yeah, I hate them. :p

If they invite you to a "tickle pajama party" DON'T go.

Just sayin'.

Oh, I don't know that they love everybody...In fact, I'm sure they hate their parents.

Seriously, though, I think it has a great deal to do with the fact that whites in America have been systematically conditioned to feel guilty for the sins of our race and, as a result, you've got those who overcompensate, trying to constantly prove they're not racist. They get all weird and hypersensitive. Because Seattle's so fucking liberal, we've got lots of 'em.