summary of "Taming Macho Ways"

Summary

In the article “Taming Macho Ways”, Elvia Alvarado narrates the hard time women from the country in Honduras face due to a machismo culture. They don’t get any help from their husbands at home, at the same time men are not being responsible for the family. Even worse, women are suffering physical abuse from their husbands.

On the other hand the author sees the big difference from this kind of men from the men on the city. Because over there men and women share the duties and responsibilities at home. They work as a team for the benefit of the family.

Analyzing men behavior, Elvia determined that the drinking habit is the principal cause of the social problem in the country side. Along with that the government does not take any position to solve the issue, leaving all the responsibility to the couple. Also the society has guiltiness there because it does not offer ant chances to people not only to stay sober but also does not give people place and value as a human beings.

One possibility to solve the problem is the organization of the society by creating a new one. In this one country side men would have a plot of land so they can have a source of income and focus in the farm and to their wives and families as well. She defends the idea of people changes in life, bad habit can be replace for good ones. Campesinos can solve the issue staring from home if they have a purpose, take responsibility for the support of their families and threat appropriate and dedicated to only one woman, their wives

Critical Questions

1. Do you think in the present children appreciate mother’s work as much as father’s work?
2. Do you thing alcohol is the principal cause of domestic violence?

 

A Ruined Dinner

On a Saturday night, I took my wife on a date. We went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. As soon as we sat at our reserved table, we asked the waiter to bring us wine. The restaurant was fancy and the structure was very creative. While we were drinking wine and listening to the music, I said to my wife, “Honey, do you want to order the food now?”

“I want to eat my favorite dish, Carbora pasta,” she replied. I called the waiter and ordered Carbora Pasta for both of us. In mean time, while we were waiting for the food, we were viewing the creative structures of the restaurant. It had a beautiful waterfall in one of the corner. It was designed like a forest. After a while, the food was finally served. The smell of the food made me even hungrier. When I was about to eat the pasta, suddenly I saw a dead fly in my plate. I said to my wife, “Honey, do you see this dead fly?”

She said, “Honey, why are you yelling? Calm down.”

“How can I calm down? There’s a fly in the food.” I countered.

I said, “Let me call the manager and let him this.”

My wife: “There is no need for the manager. Just call the waiter and tell him to bring you another plate.”

I listened to my wife and call the waiter.

Waiter: “Do you need anything sir?”

Me: “What is this? Why is there a dead fly in the food?

I couldn’t control myself and I started shouting at the waiter. The entire restaurant was silent and all the guests were just staring at our table.

My wife was whispering in my ear, “Honey, you are creating a huge tragedy. Can you just relax?”

Waiter: “sir, you need to stop yelling at me. It’s not like I put the dead fly in your food.

Since the waiter talked back to me, I got even more irritated. I couldn’t bear the waiter talking back to me.

"I want to talk to your manager. What kind of employers does this place have? You don’t even know how to behave with your customers,” I scolded the waiter.

“Sir, let me take this plate for wash. I’m sorry for all the trouble,” said the waiter.

My wife was really exasperated at this scenario that I had created. She got upset at me and left the restaurant. While she was leaving she said in anger, “This is ridiculous. You are unbelievable honey. I’m never coming to a restaurant with you.”

The entire restaurant was just observing at me. I was standing by my table and my suit was all chaotic.

The manager came and said, “Sir, I ask for forgiveness. Since your night was ruined, I would like to give you this free pass to eat next time when you come to eat.”

The manager gave me a matches box with his signature on it. “When you come to eat next time, just give this box at the register. You will have free food and services,” whispered the manager.

I said to the manager, “What makes you think I will ever come back to this restaurant again?”

I left the restaurant and threw the matches box on the floor. My wife was waiting for me by the car. She was still very upset at me for what I did. Before I went to the car, I went to a flower store that was next to the restaurant. I bought some flowers for my wife. I gave those beautiful flowers to my wife and asked her to forgive me for everything. She accepted my apology and the flowers. After that, we drove to an Mexican restaurant and finally had our dinner.