Machismo and malinchismo

There are two "ismos" in Mexican culture that are worth some discussion: machismo and malinchismo.

Before coming to Mexico I identified all Latin American cultures with machismo - the latent belief that men are superior and should have control in relationships, businesses and politics. I was surprised to find that this is not the case in Xalapa, at least not on the surface. Catcalling is practically non-existent (except when I ride my bike?), and all the men I have met have been respectful and courteous. Traces remain of a once-patriarchal society, however - in many families the wife stays home to cook and clean, and every once in a while I get the strange sense of "let me handle this" when talking to a male Mexican.

A few paintings from school children were on display downtown the other day, and this one caught my attention:


I had never heard of "malinchismo" before coming to Mexico. The word is derived from the historic figure Malinche - an indigenous Mexican woman who translated for the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés, travelling around with him and essentially abetting the colonization of Mexico. Modern-day malinchismo refers to a preference for foreigners over native Mexicans - often in the hopes of climbing the socio-economic ladder. For example, if a Mexican and an extranjero are both shopping in the same store, and the clerk blatantly ignores the Mexican and dotes over the foreigner, this is malinchismo. If a Mexican looks to date a foreigner without even considering a Mexican mate, this is also malinchismo.

A person with such dating preferences might also be called a cazajero. Cazar is the Spanish verb for "to hunt" and jero is the latter half of the word extranjero, or "foreigner". Put the two together, and you come up with someone who (often aggressively) pursues foreign dating partners.