Machismo
Violence

Machismo has negative impacts when it is used to emphasize a man’s power and dominance in relation to the submission of the women in their lives. This dominance can be used to justify abuse, which is seen in the high rates of violence against women, and femicide in Latin America. The power of machismo in shaping gender roles can not only make these issues more robust to address, but also change the nature with which they must be addressed, requiring a shift from a legal focus to a focus on changing the gender norms regarding machismo in Latin America. "Machismo as a cultural factor is substantially associated with crime, violence, and lawlessness independently of the structural control variables" (26-27). One key aspect of Machismo's association to violence is its influence in a man's behavior towards proving his strength (57). While strength and fortitude are recognized as key components to the stereotype of machismo, demonstrations of violence and aggressive actions have become almost expected of men and have been justified as desirable products of being tough and macho. It can be implied that "if you are violent, you are strong and thus more of a man than those who back down or do not fight".
startend:quotation