El Machismo Invisible Regresa. (Invisible Machismo Returns)

By staff -- Críticas, 9/1/2007

Thanks to feminism and progressive politics, machismo may not be as overt as it once was, but as Castañeda demonstrates here, it is still alive and well. Little has been written on machismo, mainly because it can still be considered a normal behavior. Castañeda, a prominent Mexican psychotherapist, tackles the subject from numerous angles in this newly updated and revised text. She draws on various resources, from her patients to the work of Sigmund Freud and Pulitzer Prize–winning feminist Susan Faludi. In each chapter, the author illustrates the many ways machismo affects the relationship between men and women regarding communication, money, sex, and love. Castañeda deftly emphasizes that machismo is a social construct and is not necessarily biologically determined. A range of current research is used to poke holes in the various myths that machismo perpetuates. Ultimately, the book concludes with the idea that there are no winners in machismo and that it is inherently damaging to both men and women. Women bear the brunt of having domineering and emotionally distant spouses and male family members, while men must uphold strict standards of traditional masculinity in public and private spheres. An excellent addition for any academic or public library.—Laura Torres, Arlington, MA