The Intersection of Gender and Culture: Addressing Machismo in Therapy
- Dr. Sophia Aguirre, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA
- Jan 18
- 4 min read
Gender does not exist in isolation from culture, history, or systems of power. For many individuals—particularly within Latinx, immigrant, and other communities of color—ideas about masculinity are shaped by cultural narratives often referred to as machismo. While
machismo is frequently portrayed in one-dimensional or negative ways, the reality is far more complex.
At the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, we approach machismo with nuance, cultural humility, and care. Addressing machismo in therapy is not about rejecting culture—it’s about understanding how gendered expectations have shaped emotional expression, relationships, and mental health, and creating space for more expansive, humane ways of being.
Understanding Machismo in Cultural Context
Machismo is often reduced to stereotypes of dominance, emotional suppression, or control. In reality, it encompasses a wide range of values, including responsibility, protection, loyalty, pride, and sacrifice. For many people, these values developed as survival strategies in response to colonization, economic hardship, racism, and systemic exclusion.
When we strip machismo of its historical and cultural context, we risk pathologizing entire communities. Culturally affirming therapy recognizes that machismo did not emerge in a vacuum—it evolved in response to conditions that demanded strength and endurance, often at great emotional cost.
How Machismo Can Impact Mental Health and Relationships
While some aspects of machismo can foster resilience and purpose, rigid gender expectations can also create emotional constraints. Many clients socialized under machismo report feeling pressure to suppress vulnerability, sadness, fear, or tenderness. Over time, this emotional narrowing can contribute to anxiety, depression, anger, relational conflict, or disconnection from self and others.
In relationships, machismo may show up as difficulty expressing needs, challenges with emotional intimacy, or discomfort with shifting gender roles. These patterns are not personal failures—they are learned responses shaped by cultural messaging about what it means to be “strong” or “worthy.”
Addressing Machismo in Therapy Without Shaming or Erasure
Effective therapy does not approach machismo as something to “fix” or eliminate. Instead, addressing machismo in therapy involves curiosity, respect, and a deep understanding of cultural identity. This work asks questions such as: What values were you taught about strength, responsibility, and care? Which of those values still serve you—and which ones feel limiting or painful?
Therapy becomes a space to separate survival strategies from present-day needs, allowing clients to retain cultural pride while expanding emotional range and relational flexibility. This process is not about abandoning masculinity, but about redefining it in ways that support authenticity and connection.
Gender, Power, and Emotional Liberation
Machismo intersects not only with gender, but with power, race, class, immigration status, and colonial histories. Addressing it in therapy requires an anti-oppressive lens that acknowledges how systems shape personal identity. Emotional liberation means creating permission for all genders to experience softness, grief, care, and interdependence—without shame. For some clients, this is the first time they are invited to explore vulnerability in a space that feels safe, affirming, and culturally grounded.
Why Culturally Affirming Therapy Is Essential
Without cultural attunement, therapy risks reinforcing harmful narratives—either by demonizing machismo or ignoring its impact altogether. Culturally affirming therapy honors complexity. It allows clients to explore gender roles while staying connected to their cultural roots, family systems, and community values.
At ACIP, our therapists understand that healing happens when identity is respected, not erased. Addressing machismo in therapy is part of a larger commitment to decolonized, trauma-informed care that centers dignity, agency, and relational healing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Addressing Machismo in Therapy
What does addressing machismo in therapy mean?
Addressing machismo in therapy involves exploring how culturally shaped ideas about masculinity, strength, and emotional expression affect mental health and relationships. It is not about rejecting culture, but about expanding emotional freedom and self-understanding.
Is machismo always harmful to mental health?
No. Machismo includes values such as responsibility, protection, and resilience. Challenges arise when these values become rigid and limit emotional expression, vulnerability, or connection. Therapy helps distinguish supportive cultural strengths from patterns that cause distress.
Who can benefit from addressing machismo in therapy?
Anyone who has been socialized within cultural expectations around masculinity may benefit, including men, women, and gender-diverse individuals. This work can be helpful for individuals, couples, and families navigating gender roles and emotional communication.
How does culturally affirming therapy approach machismo differently?
Culturally affirming therapy approaches machismo with context, respect, and humility. Rather than shaming or pathologizing, therapists explore how gender roles developed historically and help clients redefine strength in ways that support healing and connection.
Can couples therapy help address machismo in relationships?
Yes. Couples therapy can help partners understand how gender expectations influence communication, power dynamics, and emotional intimacy. Addressing machismo in therapy can support healthier, more equitable relationships.
Redefining Strength on Your Own Terms
If reading through these reflections and questions brought up something for you—curiosity, recognition, or even uncertainty—you’re not alone. Exploring the intersection of gender and culture can raise complex feelings, especially when longstanding expectations around strength and masculinity are involved.
At the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, we offer culturally responsive, affirming therapy for individuals, couples, and families navigating the impact of machismo on emotional well-being and relationships. Our therapists approach this work with nuance, respect, and care—without shaming or erasing cultural identity.
🌿 If you’re ready to explore these questions more deeply, we invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation to see if working together feels like a good fit. Visit inclusivepsych.com to take the next step toward healing, growth, and emotional freedom.