RUNNIG HEAD: MACHISMO

Machismo
Jazmin Pantaleon

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Abstract
This essay explores a problematic that has been impregnated to the culture of the complete
population of the Dominican Republic. Machismo in this nation is not just about a way of
speaking, talking or behaving, but is a common excuse for the violence that has many years
brewing, and that is solely directed to women. I analyzed the subject from a historical point of
view, including statistics and personal points of view. I expect this essay to be interesting to the
reader because of the important matter that is discussed and because of the graveness that affects
us all. Overall I intend to give my opinion on the matter.

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Machismo
The Dominican Republic is a popular destination for many international travelers for its
beautiful sandy beaches and trendy resorts. What many do not know, however, is that the nation
is one of many in Latin America where violence against women runs freely and is on the rise.
The problem is made worse by the belief that machismo and the subjugation of women is
just part of the culture. Sociologist Denise Paiewonsky refers to this phenomenon stating "We
need to acknowledge that these forms of violence come from social differences in power and
from male ideologies that sustain these differences and subordinate women". This analysis I
encounter while doing my preliminary research.
Then, I came across some statistics. Women in the Dominican Republic are vulnerable to
violence and abuse thanks, in part, to their social status. In employment, participation in the
workforce is 50.5%, compared to 79.8% of men (Dominican Republic, MDLM 2011), and the
unemployment rates of women are double that of men, 23%, compared to 10% (Dominican
Republic, MDLM 2011). Additionally, women make 44% less than what men earn for equal
work, and regardless of whatever rule is on the books, employers are known to mandate
pregnancy tests as part of a pre-hire medical examination and decline women whose tests are
positive. But, what raises alarm is the fact that women are the majority not only in population but
on educational environments.
This economic disparity puts women in a vulnerable position because it renders them
powerless and, in an abusive situation, complicates the process of leaving. Add to that, decades
of uncriminalized domestic violence, and the belief that this is simply how things are becomes
part of the education imparted in the homes of many young girls. They often grow up thinking

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that they have no rights and belong to their future husband to whom they must deliver
themselves no matter what.
"It is common in our community to hit women. It is a tradition," said Lourdes, a 60-yearold housewife who was abused by her husband for over two decades, my first interview about
the matter. That tradition became well-established, since the island did not pass its first law
concerning domestic abuse until 1997. Even so, what's on the statutes does not necessarily
translate to what gets enforced.
With a population of about 10 million, gender-based violence is the fourth leading cause
of death among women in the Dominican Republic. In the span of six years, 1,383 women and
girls were killed, 783 at the hands of a current or former partner. But, according to the NGO
Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women's Rights (Cladem), of
10,000 complaints in 2010, just "476 cases of violence against women received judgment, with
only 66 convicted offenders." What's more, 80% of those killed had not previously filed a
complaint with law enforcement, suggesting women's lack of trust in the system, or knowledge
about the availability of resources to get help.
It's really no surprise when, as reported by Amnesty International, the agencies meant to
help these women are either ill-equipped, strained, or simply do not take domestic abuse
seriously. The Office of the Prosecutor General is in charge of units meant to provide assistance
to victims of domestic violence, but at present, there are only 15 in the country's 31 provinces
(and they are primarily stationed in urban areas).
While these centers have received a high level of calls for help, in 2011 alone, they
logged over 60,000 complaints, they are hardly prepared to respond to that kind of volume, given

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the inadequacy of their methods of evaluation and programming (hardly shocking, considering
they receive little financial help from government). There's also the matter of whether those who
work at the centers are properly trained to handle victims of abuse. Deputy Attorney General
Roxana Reyes, an acquaintance I asked about the matter, admits that police and others in the
criminal justice system are ignorant about the severity of domestic abuse, harboring cultural
prejudices that lead to blaming the victim.
On top of all this, Dominican lawmakers are considering a proposal that would ease
punishments for violence against women. The proposed bill would eliminate certain provisions
from the law enacted in 1997, in particular, the actual offense of "gender violence".
There is also the Akin-Ryan-style "forcible rape" provision that only considers domestic
violence a serious offense, punishable by a maximum sentence of 30 years, when it has resulted
in death or injury lasting more than 90 days. As the law stands, it determines the severity of the
crime pertaining to the circumstances, such as whether it took place in the presence of children,
or whether the aggressor was armed. Essentially, the punishment for the crime is determined by
an assessment of the actions taken by the aggressor, not by the physical harm caused to the
victim. This is no more than evidence that machismo doesnt run only on the popular customs
but is part of the law and law enfoncers, both which have the duty of protecting every single
being on the country.
Fifty-two years ago, on 25 November, three sisters were brutally killed for standing up to
the Dominican Republic's ruthless dictator, Rafael Trujillo. The Mirabal sisters, las mariposas
inolvidables ("the unforgettable butterflies"), have the International Day for the Elimination of
Violence Against Women dedicated in their honor. Yet, the region in which their murders took

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place continues to see women killed and subjugated. While recent years have seen a rise in
women's groups' efforts, and though there has been public rage and concern over the proposed
law mention above, there is still much work to be done on the island. The first step being a
change of attitude:
"For many years I thought that her murder was her own fault because she was stupid for
choosing him," said Rosmary, whose mother was murdered by her father. "I was asked about
what had happened, 'why did he kill her?' But there is no why. The question itself is wrongly
constructed."
Conclusion
In conclusion, machismo is no more than a poor excuse to the subjugation of women and
the overall violence they suffer. Women are to be respected, but her in the Dominican Republic
they are taken for granted and abused in every environment she might be. This is not fault of the
men only, because it is often teached that women are to be submissive to men and so young girls
grow without the knowledge of their rights as women.
There might be opposing opinions about the matter, but I think that this point of view is
to be taken as correct because of all the evidence there is about the abuse women receive. Also it
is to be considered that the cases Ive talked about are not isolated cases that occur once in a blue
moon. Women, as for today, walk with fear, marry with fear and work with fear of being stepped
over by men thinking that he has the right to do so.
In the future, different entities should keep looking into the matter as a mean to regulate
and check if actions are being taken on the matter, or if the female population is to be banished
from the country.