Women are often placed in one of two discrete categories, that of a “good” or a "bad” woman. A good woman is one who takes on all of the characteristics previously described as expected of women. A bad woman, on the other hand, does not. If a woman is judged to be a “good” woman she is then honored and respected, but if a woman is judged to be a “bad” woman than she is subject to being “used, abused, and deceived” (Mirande 1979:474). This categorization of women as good or bad has been explained through the concept of a ’contradictory dualism,’ where a man needs to protect the ‘good’ women (his wife and daughters) from other ‘predatory males’ while at the same time he who is doing the protecting is one of these predatory males that women need
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The term marianismo refers to the idea that women are spiritually and morally superior to men, but this then in turn means that women are more able to endure suffering than men and thus may perpetuate male aggression toward women (Torres et al. 2002:165-166). This concept of marianismo also expects women to be submissive, self-sacrificing, and modest (Parra-Cardona and Busby 2006:349). Marianismo, like machismo, is somewhat contradictory in its practice since it teaches women that they are spiritually and morally superior to men, however, they are physically weaker than men, which means that they need to be protected by men (Danes et al. …show more content…
Ideas about machismo and the behaviors associated with machismo vary not only between countries but also across ethnic groups, economic and social classes, ages, and time periods (Asencio 1999:109). Male gender role norms and expectations that are similar to machismo can also be found in countries such as Israel, Micronesia, and in Mediterranean countries. The norms and expectations in all these places as well as in Latin America all have the aspects of aggression, dominance, and authoritarianism in common (Deyoung et al. 387). The term ‘macho’ is used differently in North American culture as compared to how it is used in Latin American cultures. In North American culture, macho is used to positively describe a man who is very masculine, strong, and has great amounts of sex appeal. On the other hand, in many Latin American cultures the term macho is more often used to negatively describe a man who is dominant, authoritarian, and aggressive (Gray
The term marianismo refers to the idea that women are spiritually and morally superior to men, but this then in turn means that women are more able to endure suffering than men and thus may perpetuate male aggression toward women (Torres et al. 2002:165-166). This concept of marianismo also expects women to be submissive, self-sacrificing, and modest (Parra-Cardona and Busby 2006:349). Marianismo, like machismo, is somewhat contradictory in its practice since it teaches women that they are spiritually and morally superior to men, however, they are physically weaker than men, which means that they need to be protected by men (Danes et al. …show more content…
Ideas about machismo and the behaviors associated with machismo vary not only between countries but also across ethnic groups, economic and social classes, ages, and time periods (Asencio 1999:109). Male gender role norms and expectations that are similar to machismo can also be found in countries such as Israel, Micronesia, and in Mediterranean countries. The norms and expectations in all these places as well as in Latin America all have the aspects of aggression, dominance, and authoritarianism in common (Deyoung et al. 387). The term ‘macho’ is used differently in North American culture as compared to how it is used in Latin American cultures. In North American culture, macho is used to positively describe a man who is very masculine, strong, and has great amounts of sex appeal. On the other hand, in many Latin American cultures the term macho is more often used to negatively describe a man who is dominant, authoritarian, and aggressive (Gray