Determination of Man?s Role in Latin America Essay -- essays research

Determination of Mans Role in Latin AmericaHow society describes what is meant by a mans role is an important definition in every culture. What is right or wrong for men to do in monetary value of behavior depends on each community, and on peoples own perceptions. Latin American culture has a strict set of values on sexual issues, reflecting a mans role in society. For all of the communities in Latin America there exists a relation between a mans role and machismo. The exaggerated sense of manliness that machismo stands for is evident by parents when raising their male children, and by communities and their expectations. Machismo represents a culture of traditions indeed, but how does machismo confine the role of a man in his society? XY is the chromosome formula for a male. Providing these two chromosomes will give the sexual differentiation that causes a man to be a man instead of a woman. However, psychological, social, and cultural factors that have nothing to do with genetics are important to determine mans role, and to work the sense of masculinity. masculinity is a process of learning. No child is born a man, so children learn to become men. One example of this are the tearing children of the nineteenth century whose sexual preference was ambiguous. Victor de lAveyron and Gaspar Hauser grew up without any human contact. For them there was no difference between men and women. A simple definition for masculinity could be the opposite of femininity. What is meant by this simple definition expresses what is demanded for being a man. It essential be proof of that sense of masculinity, it must be acquired, and at a high price (Badinter 2). Characteristics such as success, power, control and strength are demanded for masculinity. Masculinity in Latin America goes further than just demanding it. The symbol of masculinity and male sexuality comes from the definition of machismo. Labels and categories are used in order to understand masculinity. Christian Krohn-Hasen in his essay Masculinity and the Political among Dominicans describes masculinity as that of the hombre valiente, the spirited, courageous, and brave man (112). The symbol of a brave man for many is also considered the symbol of masculinity. Another motif involves man showing his masculinity in public. Physical movements represent his capacity for being a man. The m... ... lower class populations. There might be exceptions in which machismo also affects the upper class population, but the percentage is minimal. In fact, when referring to machismo, its more likely to influence low income inhabitants. Machismo is the heritage of Latin communities, and its catching through the culture in every Hispanic man. How machismo influences a mans role however, depends on each individual. BibliographyBaca Zinn, Maxine. Chicano Men and Masculinity. Mens Lives. Ed. Michael Kimmel. capital of Massachusetts Allyn and Bacon, 2001.Badinter, Elisabeth. XY on Masculine Identity. New York Columbia University Press, 1995.Berryman-Fink, Cynthia. Communication and Sex-Role Socialization. New York Garland Publishing, 1993.Krohn-Hansen, Christian. Masculinity and the Political among Dominicans The Dominican Tiger. Machos, Mistresses, Madonnas. Ed. Marit Melhuus. New York Verso, 1996. Physical abuse against women by an intimate partner. United Nations Statistics Division. 2003. United Nations. Nov 27 2004. http//unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/indwm/table6c2x.htmRandom House Websters Electronic Dictionary and Thesaurus, College Edition. 1994.