Micromachismo: the subtle machismo that we all experience every day

Regarding the current increase in women's movements for the fight for the equality of our rights, in addition to the scandals for gender violence against women In areas such as sports or cinema that are making the news at the moment, we have seen that a term is used in the dialogues that not all of us fully understand: micromachismo.

Well, we will tell you what is micromachismo and how does it affect us women in our fight for equal rights and in our empowerment process.

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What is micromachismo?

We speak of micromachismo when we refer to all those attitudes, thoughts and sexist manifestations of machismo that are subtle (so we call them micro) and that they are fully accepted and integrated by society.

It is very dangerous because, unlike the great examples of machismo that we know, we are so accustomed to these attitudes that it is difficult for us to be alert when they happen and can happen unnoticed.

Before continuing, it is normal that we are used to using the term “machismo” but that we do not know exactly what it is about. Well, machismo is a term derived from the word macho and encompasses all those attitudes, beliefs, values ​​and ways of interacting in which it is determined that man is naturally superior to the woman. It is an arrogant and proud attitude of man for which

women are subjected and discriminated against.

It is possible that micromachisms are the incipient and latent source, which is there but we do not always see, of gender violence against women. This is because our society as we know it and live it today, is made up of a heteropatriarchal system in absolutely all its aspects. This means that we are part of a society that is dominated by men and in which women play a secondary role.

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The way in which our language is configured, how education is imparted to us, the roles we fulfill, prejudices, the way we relate to men and women and even among women themselves, are some examples where we see manifestations of micro-sexism.

Some examples from day to day

So that you can start to identify them, we name you a few examples of this form of sexism so that you are aware of them and do not allow them to continue happening. You are going to see that after these few examples, you yourself are going to start discovering many other micromachisms that surround you in your day to day life.

For example, a form of micromachismo within the home is when your boy does fewer tasks or stops doing certain others if you do not know you ask, because it becomes clear that, consciously or unconsciously, household chores are considered more feminine and not egalitarian. In the same way it is when we give a doll to a girl for assuming that this is what girls like.

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It happens when in the media it is men who speak about politics and women about entertainment. Or when after social events, we discuss the ideas of the men, but we only talk about how well or badly dressed the women were. They are also an example all those types of advertising in which women are objectified or, on the contrary, when the girls only star fragile princesses.

It is micromachismo when in a social gathering in which the majority are women, we speak of "all" by the single presence of a man, or when we speak only to men to talk about the results of football in Yesterday. Also when we get together with friends and listen more carefully to what men say than what women say.

Other common examples are when we say that a woman is "not very feminine", when we let the boys out until later than the girls, when we instill in the women around us that they must be always pending their appearance, or when we make comments like "drunk women look terrible" or this cup is for "Ladies."

In the workplace there are also several micro-chaps; from the greatest in which high positions are only awarded to men, to those times when it is better not to say something about your work to a woman because she is sensitive and emotional. It also happens when women are awarded things for smiling or because they are pretty; or when we consider that there is a certain way in which a woman should behave.

Do only men promote this attitude?

Sadly, micromachismo is so established and accepted in society that it is not only men who do it. Many times we are the same women who enact these forms of inequality between ourselves

As you could see in the previous examples, there are situations in which we are the same women that we put ourselves in a position inferior to that of men, as when we criticize the way our people dress or behave friends.

Many of these attitudes have been transferred by our mothers and grandmothers to us, but remember that the world is changing. We are changing it! So it is important that you become aware of the micromachisms to which you are exposed and the micromachisms that you promote yourself.

It starts with what you can do, how to leave prejudices and eliminate everything that leaves you in a sexist position from yourself. Love the women around you and all united let's take back