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?