The 9 types of machismo and how to detect them

Machismo does not always manifest itself in the same way, and that is what makes it sometimes difficult to identify. It is a pattern of behavior and thought that has been the custom and the general and hegemonic norm for centuries.

However, the feminist movements and the struggle for equality in general have made it increasingly the questioning of certain unwritten rules that govern relationships personal. That is why behaviors that were normal decades ago are not so normal today, since they denigrate and harm women. The different types of machismo are today easier to recognize.

Below we will review these examples of discriminatory treatment.

• Related article: "Types of sexism: the different forms of discrimination"

The main types of machismo

There is no single way to classify the different types of machismo, but this categorization will depend on the criteria we look at. From now on we will focus on 3 different criteria.

Types of machismo according to the immediate cause

It is clear that, deep down, machismo

is due to a cultural, economic and political element that leaves women from a disadvantaged position. However, if we analyze the macho behavior of individual people, we can distinguish different causes:

1. for religious reasons

Many great religions contain in their sacred or reference texts an important macho residue, if they are interpreted literally. That makes some people, for example, demand that women remain in a position of subordination to men, in a "support" role, whose only decision-making power concerns domestic matters.

2. by tradition

Beyond religious influences, there is a machismo that is expressed through even atheist or agnostic people and that it has to do with the positive value of "what has always been done". This, in reality, is not a justification of sexist attitudes, but a description that is intended to be used as an argument.

For example, rejection can be shown of the idea that a woman does not want to be a mother because women have traditionally tried to marry and have children.

• You may be interested: "Sexist prejudice: explanatory theories"

3. for misogyny

It is one of the most obvious types of machismo, since it is expressed through an aggressive discourse against all women in general. the misogynistic people they are characterized by their hatred towards women, so that their treatment of them tends to be discriminatory, without a specific reason being needed: everything depends on emotions and passions.

Normally this vision of things is based on resentment and bad personal experiences.

4. By ignorance

Some people fall into macho acts largely because they have been little exposed to the point of view of many womenOr they have grown up in an environment in which there has been very little ideological variety beyond traditionalism. The result is that it is difficult for them to empathize with women and recognize them as human beings with the same rights as anyone else.

According to who expresses it

The types of machismo can be classified according to the nature of the entity that expresses it.

1. institutional machismo

It is the machismo that is formally collected in laws, codes of conduct and statutes.

2. personal machismo

It is what is expressed by individuals and by groups without formal structure.

According to the degree of violence

Machismo, as a harmful element, is always something that produces some kind of pain, whether physical or psychological. That is why you can distinguish between types of machismo according to their proximity to violence physical or verbal.

• Related article: "The 11 types of violence (and the different kinds of aggression)"

1. Physical confrontation machismo

It is a pattern of behavior that leads to aggression against women for being women. The femicides they are its most palpable consequence, but not the only one.

2. Machismo of legitimization of violence

It is composed of attitudes of condescension and permissiveness towards people who attack women for being women. Of course, this attitude reinforces the impunity of sexist crimes, either normalizing this type of aggression or offering protection to those who commit it.

3. paternalistic machismo

this machismo he's kind of overprotective. It could be interpreted as a well-intentioned attitude, but it hides a sexist undertone, as it is based on the idea that women are something that must be protected by man and, therefore, does not take a stand against the idea that women are full human beings with the capacity to make informed decisions. autonomous.

For example, a husband who constantly watches over his wife not only shows that he does not trust her ability to fend for herself, but also feeds a vision of the world in which women are a precious asset with which, therefore, it can be treated as if the relationship were that of user - object or product - buyer.