Machismo and the lack of it.

Machismo is the Mexican (and Latin American) idea of manliness. It's the tradition view of how a man should be. In particular, there is a saying that Mexican men are the three F's: Feo, Fuerte y Formal (ugly, strong and formal). So far, I've noticed that there is a certain amount of Machismo in Guanajuato, but yet on the other hand many men do things that would be considered sensitive or even feminine by people in the United States.

Many people are familiar with the fact that in Latin America, many men will stare at women and even whistle and give catcalls. Recently when we went to Puerto Rico, my dad claimed that it was MY fault that men were acting this way - he said that it was the way I dressed, the way I wore makeup, etc. This is not the case. Men here will whistle at any young woman - especially if she looks foreign. It does not matter how she is dressed or made up. On our walk to school in the morning, Amanda P. and I also often have men try to speak English to us. They will yell out "Good Morning!" or "Hello!" It is completely harmless, and we ignore it. This has been one of the biggest differences between Mexico and America.

However, I have also noticed that men here do many things that are considered "unmanly" to American people.
- Many men pluck their eyebrows and groom a lot more extensively.
- Many men aren't afraid to hug each other, put their faces close to each others, or even dance with each other ocassionally.
- Men carry their girlfriend or wives purses or pink backpacks without being afraid of being called gay.
- Men here definitely do not mind PDAs (public displays of affection).
- Many men grow their hair long... and wear headbands.
- Men LIKE to dance.
- Men aren't afraid to sculpt their hair into a rock-hard, helmet-like structure using large amounts of gel, hairspray, and grease. They also aren't afraid of wearing TOO MUCH perfume/cologne.
- Men here are experts at making roses out of paper napkins from the bar.