Machismo

Eduardo del Buey
Foto: Reuters
La Jornada Maya

Martes 22 de noviembre, 2017

Two weeks ago, I wrote an article on “Caciquismo”, a phenomenon that carries a Spanish name, yet it is rife around the world.

Today I write about another Spanish term that embodies a tendency also present around the world, “Machismo”.

Over the past few weeks we have witnessed an eruption of accusations against prominent men by a number of women, claiming sexual harassment or even outright rape. As well, a number of people have come forward and claimed sexual harassment by such celebrities as Kevin Spacey, George Takei, Dustin Hoffman, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Machismo is the use of sex as an instrument of power – having power over those less able to defend themselves.

It is a product of the age-old belief that men are all-powerful, and that women are their chattels – to be governed absolutely, with violence if necessary. Hence the history of “honor killings” and/or forceful confinement in many societies, or the trafficking of women and minors for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Sadly, over 27 million people today are trapped in sexual slavery around the world, according to recent testimony before the U.S. Senate.

In all of these cases, men play the predominant role in violence against women and children, are the principal beneficiaries of these acts, and play the dominant role in protecting those accused of these acts.

Last week, the U.S. state of Alabama’s Republican candidate for the Senate, Roy Moore, was accused by a number of women of sexual molestation years ago when they were under the age of consent. The reaction of some Republicans was to call for his removal from the race. However, a number of others, including so-called Christian leaders, came out in his defense. Many of these so-called Christian leaders and ministers shift the blame for rape from the predators to their female victims. In addition, some women interviewed on television felt Moore should be forgiven his sins – without any other consequences.

While this might have surprised us in another time, today we have a U.S. President who claimed on videotape in 2006 that he could grope women at will since his fame gave him the right to do so. He was elected President in 2016. Machismo continues to be excused and forgiven or even ignored by a large swathe of U.S. voters

Kevin Spacey has also come under attack, as reported above. His future with a major television series (House of Cards) is in doubt, and his latest movie is being re-filmed using Christopher Plummer to re-play Spacey’s role – a huge expense for producers trying to disassociate themselves from the actor. While Spacey has used the occasion to come out as being gay, the issue is not homosexuality, it is sexual misconduct – the imposition of one’s will and power over a weaker individual regardless of sexual orientation.

Women have been molested in some way or another over the course of history. This is true in politics, in business, and in cultural activities – all pursuits in which power is at the core of all things, and where the weak can be cajoled or forced to acquiesce in order not to lose their livelihoods or even their freedom.

In today’s world, men now face the same prospect, both from powerful women as from powerful men.

And children are not exempt.

A good number of child actors have come out recently claiming sexual misconduct by producers and other powerful people in the entertainment industry. Many children today are the victims of sexual trafficking and child prostitution.

But people are starting to lose their fear. They are losing their fear of feeling shame for acts beyond their control. They are losing their fear of the power others once had over them. And they are losing their fear of losing their jobs and livelihood due to the acts of the powerful.

Today’s social media is quick to pick up on reports of sexual aggression and have it go viral.

There is no place for sexual aggressors to hide, and no place for their acts to go unreported.

The nature of power is changing as the politics of power fall victim to the power of social media and the power of diminishing fear on the part of victims.

Hence, “machismo” faces an uncertain future, as its proponents begin to fear public ridicule or even legal prosecution when their actions become public. Public sentiments will also make “machismo” far less acceptable as social media ridicules its proponents and shines a global spotlight on them.

Finally, education and example can go a long way to ending this disgusting phenomenon.

Education is empowering women and adolescent girls and boys to fight it, and education is exposing young men to the dangers of practicing sexual politics both from a legal and a moral standpoint.

Example is the other side of the coin. The example of victims coming forward is empowering others to speak out against the politics of power, or resist it when it comes up in the workplace or their private lives.

There is no room today for the exercise of sexual power.

The sooner “machistas” around the world learn this truth, the better it will be for all.

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