Machismo: The Role of Chicano Rap in the Construction of the Latino Identity Presented at WSCA (Monterey, CA, 2011)
Jonathan C. Hernandez

Abstract
As Chicano rap has begun to enter mainstream music, some argue that the presence of Latino identities within popular media is beneficial in terms of representation. However, some critical scholars discuss how deviant, hyper-masculine representations of the Latino male have had detrimental effects on how Latinos are understood by others and on how Latino males understand themselves. Specifically, this paper explores a particular form of Latino identity and representation called machismo where Latinos are typically characterized as being strong, violent, phallocentric, heterosexual and hyper-masculine. This essay explores the Latino male body through machismo.

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