Marianismo: Beyond Stereotypes, Women in Latin America

The Cult of Marianismo

According to the Dictionary of Mexican Cultural Code Words

 I am part Latino, for my grandmother was Mexican and I speak Spanish. I grew up with many strong women, and I recall one who didn't like the church because men were too macho. I even earned a BA in Spanish and wanted to be a teacher. Then I found out how much they made, so I became a professor.

"Machismo meant the repudiation of all 'feminine' virtues such as unselfishness, kindness, frankness and truthfulness.  It meant being willing to lie without compunction, to be suspicious, envious, jealous, malicious, vindictive, brutal and finally, to be willing to fight and kill without hesitation to protect one's manly image.  Machismo meant that a man could not let anything detract from his image of himself as a man's man, regardless of the suffering it brought on himself and the women around him. ... The proof of every man's manliness was his ability to completely dominate his wife and children, to have sexual relations with any woman he wanted, to never let anyone question, deprecate or attempt to thwart his manhood, and never to reveal his true feelings to anyone lest they somehow take advantage of him." 

Though its origins come from Europe, "fully developed" machismo is a Latin American phenomenon (Stevens 91).

Cult of Virility

When reading Latin American Literature, acts of machismo and its "cult of virility" (Stevens 90) occur, so it is important to understand that it is a cultural phenomenon of expectations.

Stereotypes associated with Latin American women are that they stay at home, clean and cook, and that they are submissive. Just visit sites like "Latin Wives: Meet the Most Beautiful Latin Women in the World" and read what they claim: "Again, thank you for taking time to read and view our website. Only Latin women could do this for men and you will see in beautiful Latin American women energy, loyalty, zeal, intelligence and determination to fulfill all your needs, dreams, hopes and aspirations." Cultural origins show where some of these stereotypes stem from: marianismo, the counter part to the Latin American male's machismo.

Semi-Divine

Basically, Marianismo "is the cult of feminine spiritual superiority, which teaches that women are semi-divine, morally superior to and spiritually stronger than men" (Stevens 91). Latin American society holds their women to these high standards. Furthermore, "No self-denial is too great for the Latin American woman, no limit can be divined to her vast store of patience with the man of her world" (Stevens 94-5).

Attitudes about sexual practices are part of Marianismo. " 'Good' women do not enjoy coitus: they endure it when the duties of matrimony require it" (Stevens 96). Virginity before marriage is important part of this cult, for repairing of the hymen in hospitals, "a practice that goes back at least to fifteenth-century Spain" (Stevens 97)

Stereotypes associated with Latin American women are that they stay at home, clean and cook, and that they are submissive. Just visit sites like "Latin Wives: Meet the Most Beautiful Latin Women in the World" and read what they claim: "Again, thank you for taking time to read and view our website. Only Latin women could do this for men and you will see in beautiful Latin American women energy, loyalty, zeal, intelligence and determination to fulfill all your needs, dreams, hopes and aspirations." Cultural origins show where some of these stereotypes stem from: marianismo, the counter part to the Latin American male's machismo.

Semi-Divine

Basically, Marianismo "is the cult of feminine spiritual superiority, which teaches that women are semi-divine, morally superior to and spiritually stronger than men" (Stevens 91). Latin American society holds their women to these high standards. Furthermore, "No self-denial is too great for the Latin American woman, no limit can be divined to her vast store of patience with the man of her world" (Stevens 94-5).

Attitudes about sexual practices are part of Marianismo. " 'Good' women do not enjoy coitus: they endure it when the duties of matrimony require it" (Stevens 96). Virginity before marriage is important part of this cult, for repairing of the hymen in hospitals, "a practice that goes back at least to fifteenth-century Spain" (Stevens 97).

I so love to dance, and dancing in places like Madrid and Colombia made me so happy to meet the women there who accepted me.

Works Cited

Latin Wives. <http://www.latinwives.com/>.

Stevens, Evelyn P. "Marianismo: The Other Face of Machismo in Latin America." Female and Male in Latin American Essays. Edited by Ann M. Pescatello. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsbugh Press, 1973. 89-101. Print.