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While ‘machismo’ has more meaning for Hispanics, most view it negatively
The Pew Research Center conducted this study to explore Hispanics’ views and experiences with the concept of machismo.
The analysis in this report is based on the Pew Research Center’s National Hispanic Survey, a survey of 5,078 Hispanic adults conducted November 6-19, 2023. This includes 1,524 respondents from the Center American Trends Panel and an additional 3,554 from Ipsos Knowledge panel.
Respondents in both panels were recruited through a national, random sampling of residential addresses. Recruitment of panelists by mail ensures that nearly all adults in the US have the opportunity to be selected. This gives us confidence that each sample can represent the entire population. (For more information, see our Methods 101 explained random sample.)
In this survey, respondents were asked an open-ended question about what machismo means to them, and some quotes from those responses are used in this report. Quotes have been selected for illustrative purposes and may have been edited for grammar, spelling and clarity. For more information on this survey, see hers methodology and top line.
Conditions Hispanic and Latino are used interchangeably in this report.
immigrant refers to people born outside the 50 US states or the District of Columbia. For the purposes of this report, immigrant also refers to those born in Puerto Rico or other US territories. Although individuals born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens by birth, they are classified as immigrants because they were born into a Spanish-dominant culture and because in many respects their attitudes, views, and beliefs are much closer to those of Hispanics born outside the U.S. rather than Hispanics born in the 50 states or DC, even those who identify as Puerto Rican.
born in USA refers to people born in the 50 US states or DC
Second generation refers to people born in the 50 US states or DC with at least one immigrant parent.
Third or higher generation refers to people born in the 50 US states or DC, with both parents born in the 50 US states or DC
Linguistic dominance is a composite measure based on self-reported assessments of speaking and reading ability. Spanish dominant people are more proficient in Spanish than in English (ie, they speak and read Spanish “very well” or “fairly well” but rate their ability to speak and read English lower). Bilingual refers to people who speak both English and Spanish well. English dominant people are more proficient in English than in Spanish.
Democrats and Democratic leanings are respondents who identify politically with the Democratic Party or who identify politically as independent or with another party, but lean toward the Democratic Party. Republicans and Republicans are respondents who identify politically with the Republican Party or who identify politically as independent or with another party, but lean toward the Republican Party.
For Hispanics living in the United States, conversations about gender may include discussions of “machismo,” a concept that broadly encompasses ideas, behaviors, and expectations about men and masculinity that are sometimes attributed to Spanish-speaking cultures.
A November 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that the vast majority of US Latino adults (83%) have heard of machismo. And among those who have heard of it, 73% say machismo among Latinos is a bad thing.
In all, 60% of all Latino adults – including those who have not heard about machismo – sees it negatively.
For decades, conversations about machismo have taken place among Hispanics and non-Hispanics in American popular culture, higher education, and politics. In the 2024 US presidential election. Donald Trump’s campaign it was sometimes seen as exhibiting traits associated with machismo in an effort to attract men of all backgrounds.
In Latin America, conversations about machismo often focus on gender relations, including its links to toxic masculinity, sexism, and gender-based violence. In recent years, governments across the region have launched a campaign against machismo to address some of these attitudes and behaviors.
American Latinos define machismo in many ways. In the survey, respondents who had heard of machismo were asked an open question about what this term means to them.
- 25% say that machismo is the belief that men are superior or better than women.
- 22% say it means acting with an emphatic or proud masculinity.
- 19% say it is the belief that men and women should have certain roles in society based on gender.
- 17% say it means behaving dominantly or aggressively.
There are significant differences in the views of Hispanics on what machismo means by the primary language they speak and where they were born. On the other hand, there are more modest differences by gender.
In terms of personal behavior, 22% of Latino adults who are familiar with the term say they behave in a way they consider consistent with machismo. Among men, 28% say they sometimes or often behave this way, and among women, 17% say they do.
These findings come from the Pew Research Center’s bilingual National Latino Survey, conducted in November 2023 among a nationally representative sample of 5,078 Latino adults.
‘Machismo’ in history, science and everyday life
Machismo is a word that has its roots in the Spanish language. However, both spanish– i in English scholarships contributed to the development and popularization of the concept. Machism and related ideas gained importance during the 20th centuryand by the late 1900s it began to appear in popular culture outside of Latin America in music, entertainment, sports, and beyond.
In the last few decades, machismo has been studied as a number of traits associated with masculinity which can have negative, neutral or positive connotations. Others associate machismo with a negative impact on Latinos psychic and physical health.
Some have criticized machismo as a concept it portrays Hispanics as monolithic – stereotyping Hispanics like excessively aggressive and hypersexual and Hispanic women as subordinate and passive. Critics have also described machismo as an idea imposed on the Latins external influences.
Machism is also closely related to Marianisma concept focused on traditional roles and expectations of femininity among Latin American women. The Pew Research Center did the research Hispanic Attitudes About Gender and Gender Roles in the USAincluding pressures facing Hispanic women and men in the US today.
What ‘machismo’ means for US Latinos, according to key demographics
Hispanic views on what machismo means vary significantly the primary the language they speak. This may reflect the culture and place in which they grew up or remain associated with, which may influence their attitudes and views. Among Hispanic adults who have heard the term “machismo”:
- Those who speak primarily Spanish (34%) or are bilingual in Spanish and English (29%) are more likely than those who speak primarily English (13%) to say that machismo is the belief that men are superior or better than women.
- English-dominant speakers (42%) are far more likely than bilinguals (19%) or Spanish-dominant speakers (4%) to describe machismo as behavior with an emphasis on or pride in masculinity.
These views reflect the different ways in which major sources in Spanish and English describe machismo. For example, Definition of the Royal Spanish Academy emphasizes male arrogance and sexist discrimination, whereas Merriam-Webster’s definition emphasizes “male pride” and “exaggerated masculinity”.
The attitudes of Latin Americans differ on this as well where they were born. Among those who are aware of “machismo”:
- Immigrants are twice as likely to describe machismo as a belief in male superiority (34% vs. 16%) than US-born Americans.
- U.S.-born Latinos are about four times more likely to say that machismo means acting with an emphatic or proud masculinity (37% vs. 9%).
Jump to more about it awareness of machismo among Latin Americans and what it means to them and how their attitudes differ from other demographic groups.
In their own words: What does “machismo” mean to American Latinos?
Respondents in the survey shared in an open question what the term machismo means. Below are selected answers.
“Machismo refers to the privileges and treatment that men give and receive in their lives simply because they are men, and these privileges and treatment are, for the most part, negative to the well-being of men and their loved ones.” – born in USA, late 20s
“Visible self-presentation as well as internalization of strong, unyielding, capable, serious, thoughtful, insightful.” – female born in USA, mid 60s
“A man who feels superior to women just because he is a man. “Who thinks that a woman’s role is to stay at home and take care of her children without the possibility of personal development.” – Immigrant, late 30s
“Machismo means the need to feel and act masculine or macho, including putting one’s pride and ego above those around them.” – US-born female, mid-20s
Do US Hispanics think ‘machismo’ is a good or bad thing and do they exhibit machismo behavior? It differs according to how they define it
Most Latin Americans who have heard of machismo view it negatively. However, these views differ considerably on what it means to them. For example:
- 90% of Latinos who describe machismo as the belief that men are superior to women say it is somewhat or very bad.
- 43% of those who describe machismo as confident, chivalrous or protective have a negative opinion of it.
Whether Hispanics say they exhibit macho behavior is also related to how they describe the concept.
- 14% of those who describe machismo as the belief that men are superior to women say their behavior is consistent with machismo at least sometimes.
- 35% of those who describe it as self-confident, chivalrous or protective say they behave that way.
In general, those who perceive machismo negatively are less likely to report that they behave that way.