summary of "Taming Macho Ways"

Summary

In the article “Taming Macho Ways”, Elvia Alvarado describes the difficulty that women from the countryside experience every day. The only job women don’t do is the physically demanding. Besides that, Women’s work never stops.  In contrast, men go to work and they assume that their job is finished once they get home. Women in this society don’t get any breaks. They can go to bed but if something happens they are the ones to take care of the issue. The author compares the behavior of men from the country with men from the city because in the city, men help their women in home duties; they get involved as much as women for the family benefit. On the other hand the country women deal with big issues. First they don’t get any physical help from husbands at home, and then husbands are not taking any responsibility for the maintenance of their families. Even worse than that, women are mistreated and are suffer from domestic violence.

Elvia claimed “machismo is an historical problem”, and she strongly refers to drinking not only as a terrible disease but also as the cause of country men’s behavior. She found the government as guilty as the alcohol because, as an authority, it does not regulate the drinking habit. From the author’s view, the society is guilty for mistreating people and does not give possibilities to change the countryside men’s behavior. Then she actually suggests one way to solve the problem.  From the experiences she has seem when men from country side get a plot of land to farm they  dedicate to take care of this source of income as much as their families; consequently drinking habit would be less and left  just for special events. 

The author affirms that people can change, and the way to get a new society is change habits from the past. She talks about the bad habits she used to have such as gossiping and hanging out with married men to show that it is definitely possible to change bad habits for good ones. At the end she highlights the importance of country side men changes. According to her they should be with one woman and dedicated to her. The ones who drink need to stop it, and the ones who mistreat their women have to behave properly.

Critical Questions

• Do you think the equality of men and women should be beyond any culture, religion or belief?
• What do you see in society that reflects discrimination against women?

A Ruined Dinner

                On a Saturday night, I took my wife on a date. We went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. As soon as we sat at our reserved table, we asked the waiter to bring us wine. The restaurant was fancy and the structure was very creative. While we were drinking wine and listening to the music, I said to my wife, “Honey, do you want to order the food now?”

“I want to eat my favorite dish, Carbonara pasta,” she replied.  I called the waiter and ordered Carbora Pasta for both of us. In mean time, while we were waiting for the food, we were viewing the creative structures of the restaurant. It had a beautiful waterfall in one of the corners.  It was designed like a forest. After a while, the food was finally served. The smell of the food made me even hungrier. When I was about to eat the pasta, suddenly I saw a dead fly in my plate. I said to my wife, “Honey, do you see this dead fly?”

She said, “Honey, why are you yelling? Calm down.”

“How can I calm down? There’s a fly in the food.” I countered.

I said, “Let me call the manager and let him this.” 

My wife: “There is no need for the manager. Just call the waiter and tell him to bring you another plate.”

I listened to my wife and call the waiter.

Waiter: “Do you need anything sir?”

Me:  “What is this? Why is there a dead fly in the food?

I couldn’t control myself and I started shouting at the waiter. The entire restaurant was silent and all the guests were just staring at our table. My wife was whispering in my ear, “Honey, you are creating a huge tragedy.  Can you just relax?”  Waiter: “sir, you need to stop yelling at me. It’s not like I put the dead fly in your food.

Since the waiter talked back to me, I got even more irritated. I couldn’t bear the waiter talking back to me. "I want to talk to your manager. What kind of employers does this place have? You don’t even know how to behave with your customers,” I scolded the waiter. “Sir, let me take this plate for wash. I’m sorry for all the trouble,” said the waiter.

My wife was really exasperated at this scenario that I had created. She got upset at me and left the restaurant. While she was leaving she said in anger, “This is ridiculous. You are unbelievable honey. I’m never coming to a restaurant with you.”

All other customers were observing me.  I was standing by my table and my suit was all chaotic.

 The manager came and said, “Sir, I ask for forgiveness. Since your night was ruined, I would like to give you this free pass to eat next time when you come to eat.”

The Manager gave me a matches box with his signature on it. “When you come to eat next time, just give this box at the register. You will have free food and services,” whispered the manager.

Then I replied: “What makes you think I will ever come back to this restaurant again?”

                I left the restaurant and threw the matches box on the floor. My wife was waiting for me by the car. She was still very upset at me for what I did. Before I went to the car, I went to a flower store that was next to the restaurant. I bought some flowers for my wife. I gave those beautiful flowers and I asked her to forgive me for everything.  She accepted my apology and the flowers. After that, we drove to a Mexican restaurant and finally had our dinner.