Blog # 7 - Chicano Men and Masculinity

According to Zin, "The social science literature views machismo as a compensation for feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness" (25). People often feel the need to prove themselves worthy in one aspect for what they lack in another aspect. The idea of this machismo, male dominance is believed to because of the feeling of inferiority from the attitude of those who were conquered. As he stated, "The common origins of inferiority and machismo are said to lie in the historical conquest of Mexico by Span involving the exploitation of Indian women by Spanish men thus producing the hybrid Mexican people having an inferiority complex based on the mentality of a conquered people" (25). By reason of feeling inferior and feeling inadequate, Chicanos have the impression that for what they lack or what they feel they lack, their dominance and patriarch over their wives and children make up for it. Chicano men have the last word and they make all the decisions in the household. For better terms, they expect complete respect and subordination. Taking this into account, the kid doesn't attain self worth or value. They don't learn to be independent or a type of reliance of him or herself, thus the cycle repeats of Chicanos having to prove masculinity/dominance and machismo because of what they lack to build better esteem.