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Changing Constructions of Machismo for Latino Men in Therapy: “The Devil Never Sleeps”

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This paper presents current narratives about masculinity that question simplistic negative stereotypes of machismo for Latino heterosexual men. Various models of masculinity within Latino cultures are described using evidence from ethnographic studies, research data, and clinical observation. Therapeutic advantages of including positive cultural masculine traits such as respect and dignity are illustrated with an extensive case study. The case highlights contradictions in the coexistence of constructions of masculinity and traces progressive stages for transforming these constructions. In this strength-based approach, attention is directed to elements of cultural memory that reclaim a strong relational ethic present in the indigenous cultures. " Within the culture" definitions of masculinity contribute alternative constructions toward a more empowering cultural narrative for Latino men than the usual negative stereotypes. 2010
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... Other characteristics to begin to understand and identify while working with Latinos and their families is that of familismo, machismo, and simpatía (Barranti, 2005;Brammer, 2004;& Falicov, 2010). Familismo is probably the best known of the terms in that it entails the meaning of the adages such as, "it takes a village", "what happens in the family stays in the family" and "we help our own". ...
... In this case the social worker attempted to assure he understands the hierarchy in the family. It is important to know that among rural Latinos there does tend to be more patriarchies than in urban areas (Falicov, 2010). Knowing this can eliminate potential biases leading to thoughts that a female's lack of participation may be due to domestic violence, submissiveness, child abuse and other serious assumptions. ...
... While it is essential to understand withingroup differences, there are some commonalities among the Hispanic/Latinx community in the United States, including overarching cultural strengths and challenges, that may impact the parent-worker relationship. Hispanic/Latinx values of respect can potentially improve working relationships and service engagement (Falicov, 2010;Furman et al., 2009). In addition, many Hispanic/Latinx individuals especially value their families and family relationships (Furman et al., 2009). ...
... First, Hispanic/Latinx immigrant fathers are often depicted as having traditional gender roles and conforming to patriarchal structures based on the value of machismo. However, more recent research has highlighted that various models of masculinity exist within Hispanic/Latinx populations outside of the monolithic simplification of machismo, such as the incorporation of positive masculine traits, like respect and dignity, which can provide therapeutic advantages (Falicov, 2010). Therefore, Hispanic/ Latinx immigrant fathers may be able to bring their diverse cultural values and strengths when building positive relationships with home visitors. ...
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Despite home visiting’s established legacy, the potential influence of intersecting parental characteristics on parent–worker relationships is less understood. This study examines the main and interaction effects of parents’ demographic characteristics on positive relationships with workers in home visiting and compares whether and how these effects differ between fathers and mothers. This study analyzed 130 mothers and 180 fathers who participated in home visiting services. Immigrant status was a significant predictor of positive worker relationships for mothers and fathers, whereas ethnicity was only significant for fathers. Interaction analyses indicated that U.S.-born Hispanic/Latinx fathers faced greater challenges in building positive worker relationships than their foreign-born counterparts. These findings highlight the importance of developing gender-specific and culturally responsive strategies to enhance parent–worker relationships.
... The higher external locus of control rating also aligns with values Hispanic/Latinx and non-Hispanic faculty, staff, and administrators at HSIs felt characterized Hispanic culture (Preuss et al., 2019;Preuss et al., 2020a) and studies in psychology (Diaz, Blanco, Bajo & Stavraki, 2015) and health (Roncancio, Ward & Berenson, 2011) that confirm fatalistic outlooks among Hispanics. The presence of both higher internal and external locus of control illustrates the need to move beyond common or even stereotypic understandings (Arciniega, Anderson, Tovar-Blank & Tracey, 2008;Falicov, 2010) to facilitate culturally relevant and educationally advantageous interaction with Hispanic/Latinx students. ...
... They face waves of new sequentially linked and scaffolded information and seek in relative isolation to power through to an understanding. Yet, researchers correctly caution against overgeneralization of some elements of machismo and marianismo as negative (Castillo, Perez, Castillo & Ghosheh, 2010;Falicov, 2010). The authors agree these are "wider and much more complex" (Falicov, 2010, p. 310) "multidimensional realities" (Falicov,p. ...
... Mental health professionals working with LSMM are encouraged to be aware of traditional machismo and caballerismo to identify when and how they may influence clients' sexual identity development and self-identification. As suggested by past scholars of Latinx masculinity (Falicov, 2010;Ojeda & Piña-Watson, 2014), knowledge of these cultural values could be integrated into culturally relevant case conceptualizations and clinical interventions. More specifically, clinicians should note that LSMM may or may not self-identify as GBQ in the same manner that may be expected of White, non-Latinx sexual minority men who may feel that they need to "come out" to maintain a healthy GBQ identity, especially when they present with heightened levels of traditional machismo and caballerismo. ...
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El posible efecto de las normas de género masculino tradicionales latinas (p. ej., machismo tradicional y caballerismo) en el desarrollo de la identidad sexual de los Hombres Latinos de Minorías Sexuales (LSMM) es un área de investigación en expansión en la psicología latina. El propósito de este estudio interseccional es determinar si la aprobación del machismo tradicional y el caballerismo entre los LSMM varía según su: (a) estado de desarrollo de la identidad sexual y (b) su identidad sexual auto-etiquetada. Encuestamos a 499 LSMM (con edades de 18 a 57 años) en todo Estados Unidos a través de un estudio en línea. Con base en análisis correlacionados y un análisis multivariante de la varianza, los resultados describen cómo el machismo tradicional y el caballerismo están relacionados con: (a) diferentes niveles de estados teorizados de desarrollo de la identidad sexual (incertidumbre, exploración, compromiso, síntesis/integración) y también con: (b) el uso de etiquetas de identidad sexual por parte de los participantes (exclusivamente heterosexual/convencional, mayoritariamente heterosexual/convencional, bisexual, mayoritariamente homosexual/gay, exclusivamente homosexual/gay). Se encontraron resultados mixtos con respecto a las diferencias hipotéticas en la aprobación del machismo tradicional y el caballerismo por parte de los participantes en los cuatro estados de desarrollo de la identidad sexual. Los resultados respaldan las hipótesis de que los LSMM que indican un machismo tradicional y caballerismo más tradicionales tienden a autoidentificarse con etiquetas de heterosexual/convencional en comparación con los encuestados que se identifican con las etiquetas bisexual o homosexual/gay. Se debaten las implicaciones para la investigación psicológica y la práctica clínica en relación con el fomento del desarrollo de la identidad sexual saludable y culturalmente congruente de los LSMM.
... The literature also shows the alternate perspectives to the Machismo stereotypes, leading to complex range of multiple masculinities effected by social factors, for instance (Falicov, 2010) mentioned in the study contradiction in the unitary concept of masculinities in Latino men. Review of literature does not directly link violence perpetrated in the society with the acts of violence shown on television or cinema, however prolonged exposure of children and adults to the acts of violence on Television and cinema are not without their negative impact (McCormack, 1978). ...
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This study thoroughly examines the impact of machismo portrayals in Pakistani cinema on young people, emphasizing the importance of considering gender. It looks not only at how often these portrayals appear but also how they reinforce specific ideas about masculinity and femininity. The study also explores how the machismo image has changed from rural to urban settings and how this relates to gender roles. It's important to note that violence is often associated with this image, and the research investigates how this influences how people think about their own gender identity and contributes to harmful stereotypes. Additionally, the study evaluates whether these cinematic portrayals align with or challenge changing gender roles, women's empowerment, and the broader conversation about gender equality in Pakistan today. Overall, this research provides insight into how machismo images in cinema affect the experiences and expectations of young men and women in Pakistan from a gender perspective. There are many values that are associated with it such as masculinity, courage, stubbornness, strength (Stevens, 1965). It is considered that the public space is reserved for men, and not for women. Men are supposed to show courage and strength. If he would not show strength, he would be termed as submissive and feminine, which is certainly non-machismo traits, further reiterates that an adult adopts behavior traits that he or she acquired social learning, and cultural values. However, his study further shows through his study that the Latin American countries are gradually becoming aware of their problems with sustaining machismo image and maintaining that the country will be solely depended on a strong and charismatic leader who will bring them back on the path to development. The machismo male image is also based on sexism, which extensively supports the assumption that sexual division based on biological differences of male and female is a universal phenomenon. It rather than social and cultural construction, majorly focuses on physical differences, leading to superiority of male over the female, in attitudes and behaviors. This helps in turning the biases into institutionalized biases, thriving on discrimination and exploitation (McCormack, 1978). As in a study in Yugoslavia, shown that women attain agency by not only being part of the families which are essentially patriarchal in nature, but also through becoming mothers (Simic, 1983). This is also reflected in the social setup in Pakistan, in the kinship relations. This is often represented out of proportion in the cinema in Pakistan. In an article, asserts that Machismo confines women in home and due to unequal gender relations between men and women discourages women form taking responsible positions in the public space. She also highlighted a certain term machista, meaning jealousy due to which man does not want women to work in the esteemed positions in politics,
... Es importante reconocer que lo masculino tiene fortalezas y que los hombres pueden re-conceptualizar la masculinidad para hacerla más a tono con sus propias necesidades y las necesidades de su familia. Hay investigadores que insisten en que debemos fortalecer precisamente la diversidad de construcciones de la masculinidad que poseen los hombres latinoameri-canos y que podemos enfatizar en un modelo más positivo de las características de lo masculino que representan fortalezas (Arciniega, et al, 208;Campos & salas, 2005;Falicov, 2010). Otros han desarrollado análisis de los diferentes modelos terapéuticos y su aplicabilidad a la terapia con hombres (Brooks, 2010). ...
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El estudio de las masculinidades se ha iniciado para examinar el impacto de la construcción social de lo masculino en los hombres. Investigadores plantean que la masculinidad hegemónica, es el modelo dominante que se describe por manifestaciones de poder, control, dominio, una sexualidad desconectada, la restricción de las emociones, la constante demostración de independencia y violencia que caracteriza el modelo tradicional de lo que es “ser un hombre”.
... The positive attributes of machismo have been associated with caballerismo, which is a Spanish term that resembles and signifies a courteous, modest, and honorable man (Arciniega et al., 2008). More recent work has positioned the debate over machismo and caballerismo away from a positivenegative dichotomy and toward a continuum that needs to account for regional factors (rural and urban), the evolution of relationship definitions and expectations, and evolution of how individual men define masculinity (Daniel-Ulloa et al., 2019;Falicov, 2010). ...
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Much of the research regarding Latino men’s health tends to focus on specific health outcomes (e.g., HIV or diabetes). Few studies have examined how Latino men perceive factors that influence their health and/or health-related behaviors. This study explored rural Latino men’s experiences and attitudes toward health, using photovoice, in the context of a community-based participatory research partnership. We recruited nine Latino men living in a small town in Southeastern Iowa. Four to nine men attended four sessions and led a community forum. All the men were foreign-born, identified as Latino, aged between 34 and 67 years, and had lived in the United States for at least 7 years. Five themes were identified: (a) cultural conflict, (b) too much and discordant information, (c) lifestyles conflict, (d) sacrifice, and (e) family connectedness. An important implication of this study derives from familial and community connections and sacrifice. Feeling disconnected from family may impact physical and mental health and health-promoting behaviors. Future research should explore ways to inform community- and family-level interventions to connect rural Latino men more strongly to their family and local community and help them to take better control of their health.
... The vital element of Latino fathers was machismo, which referred to fathers' nurturing, affectionate, and protective role. The positive values of machismo consisted of sincerity, humility, and a strong work ethic (Falicov, 2010). In traditional Latino families, fathers are regarded as breadwinners, rarely as caretakers. ...
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The paternal role has become one of the most topic discussions in parenting and has drawn researchers' intention worldwide. This research aimed to explore the existing literature relating to paternal roles across cultures, which analyzed 1) how the paternal roles in cultural perspectives have been researched; 2) what the parental values based on cultures mentioned in the literature are, and 3) what the topic discussed about the paternal role across culture is. The focus of the research was to find out the current trends of paternal roles across cultures from 2012 to 2022 derived from the Scopus database. The method used was a systematic review and followed PRISMA guidelines (the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis). The study revealed that most of the literature highlighted the significance of the fathers’ involvement in child-rearing in every culture (Indian, Japanese, Latino, Chinese, Indonesian, Norwegian, and Finland) and the improvement of paternal practices due to the adaptation of new cultures and the emergence of fathers' awareness to take part in their children's lives. It can be concluded that the paternal role in a collectivist culture still holds firm to the culture in parenting practices but has begun to experience a shift from the original position of breadwinner, protector, even disciplinarian and authoritarian, becoming the more involved father in child-rearing. While most fathers from individualist cultures had previously been involved in child care because they were supported by policies in their country of origin.
... The present study highlights a negative correlation of machismo and drinking frequency, as men with higher scores of machismo reported drinking less frequently. Contrary to the literature on machismo that has characterized men with higher levels of machismo with higher levels of risk taking and substance abuse behavior [11,18], the current study findings align with a wider perspective found in more recent ones [4,19]. According to the more recent perspective of masculinity norms, there is a multidimensional aspect of machismo that encompasses attributes such as chivalry, respect, and honor [4,12]. ...
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Previous studies have found Latinx cultural values to be positively associated with healthy behaviors. This study aims to examine socioeconomic and cultural correlates of alcohol use among Latinx adult men living in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The study sample included 122 Latinx adult men (mean age = 44, SD = 10), predominantly of South and Central American origin. Data was collected using REDCap. Interviews included the Timeline Follow-Back scale for alcohol use. Results indicate that Caribbean participants were significantly less likely to report drinking in the past 90 days (aOR = 0.08, p = 0.042) compared to their Venezuelan counterparts. Higher machismo scores were associated with low drinking frequency (aRR = 0.67, p = 0.043), while no significant associations were found between machismo and other drinking outcomes. Drinking quantity and frequency are significantly associated with higher income and authorized immigration status in the US among Latinx men in South Florida. Higher machismo scores were associated with low drinking frequency.