Micromachismo: everyday aggressions that go unnoticed

Have you ever heard of micromachismo? This is another term that needs to be added to our personal feminist glossary, because of its great importance. It was created and popularized in the 90’s to designate small violence present in women’s lives. Continue reading to understand more about the subject.

What is micromachismo and how to identify it

The term micromachismo was created in 1991 by Spanish psychotherapist Luis Bonino Mendez. The concept spread in Latin America, where the problem grows more and more, however, in other continents, it is not very different. According to Mendez’s study, micromachismo are discriminatory attitudes toward women. They are so present in everyday life that they are often not considered violence.

Although very popular, micromachismo is questioned by many experts. According to some researchers, it is preferable to call the phenomenon “daily machismo”, as the term described by Mendez minimizes the impacts of gestures. It is worth mentioning that the prefix micro is not related to the impact of violence (it is not small violence), but to various actions that may go unnoticed.

If you’ve ever heard a comment that made you very uncomfortable, embarrassed or diminished for being a woman, you’ve probably experienced a situation of micromachismo. Below, check out some examples to learn how to identify everyday violence.

Examples of micromachismo

Whether at home, on the street, at work or among friends, micromachismo affects thousands of women every day. It is important to say that this type of violence is also perpetuated by women, as it is the result of a historical, patriarchal and social construction. Check out some examples:

Someone asks if you’re nervous about being in “those days,” when really, you’re just being assertive.
You go for a walk and receive a “complimentary horn” in the street.
On the bus, the man sitting next to you spreads his legs and occupies the seat space that suits him and also yours.
When you share a house with a man, but he does not participate in domestic activities.
When you try to explain that housework is the responsibility of everyone who shares the space, and you get comments like – “women today are not like they used to be”.
Hear that “if you don’t change your temper, no man will want you”.
When they suggest that if you don’t learn to cook, you won’t get married.
If you are harassed while walking with a man, another person sees the situation from the outside and catches the harasser’s attention by saying – “can’t you see that she is accompanied?”.
When they say something like – “you only have male children, poor thing! Do you have a wife, mother or aunt who helps you with household chores?”.
When a co-worker says he doesn’t like working with women because they’re too sentimental.
When they question your motherhood because you’re having fun without the child.
When they say that a woman is only used to be demure and home.
When they interrupt the speech of a woman who dominates a certain subject.
When they objectify you in some compliment or comment.
When they prevent you from doing a certain activity, as it is considered a “man thing”.
When someone assumes your sexuality as heterosexual because you are a woman.
When they say that only men can like sports.
When they say – “Aren’t you going to have children? It’s already old”, assuming that you need to want to be a mother.
When they say you should be more feminine.
When they control their way of speaking, because their vocabulary is not suitable for a woman.
When someone eats at your house and compliments you on the food without thinking that a man prepared the meal.

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If you identified yourself, stay tuned, talk to other women about it and share the information. Oppressive comments are not just “a little joke”, they perpetuate machismo.

Why is it important to fight it?

Although micromachismo seem harmless and sometimes even considered compliments, they are, yes, very dangerous. Combating violence against women needs to start from the micro to the macro, that is, from everyday life to power structures. That’s because there is no change if the root of the problem continues to spread. Small attitudes deepen gender inequalities, justifying more brutal violence, such as harassment and physical violence.

To combat micromachismo, the first step is awareness. Explain the seriousness of the matter to your mother, aunt, neighbor, cousin, etc. Also, whenever you hear someone making an oppressive comment – in the infamous mockery – correct it and explain why. If you are a mother, if you have younger siblings, a nephew, cousin or a friend’s son, promote an education free from machismo. In the face of situations involving violence, don’t be silent, report it!

As previously stated, the micro prefix does not lessen the severity of the problem! Check out the article on violence against women and continue fighting to break structural misogyny, aiming for a more equal future. The challenge is great, but you, woman, are not alone.