MACHO AS IN

Words by Gabrielle Gonzales Art by Claudia Tong 

Macho as in duality
Masculine energy
Always present within
Challenging the patriarchy
Honoring duality
Owning our complexity 

Macho as in me too
Me too
Attitude de mi padre
Como chingas
Hecho por el hombre
Otro yo 

Macho as in fear
Made me fear los hombres
Always looking over my shoulder
Can’t trust anyone
He only wants
One thing 

Macho as in healing
Maybe in
Another life you
Can
Heal the parts of you that believe
“Only girls, women, females, bitches, and pussies cry” 

Macho as in anti-colonial
May we
All
Commit to ending colonial patriarchy
Healing our collective wound
Only then can we truly love 

Macho as in duality
Masculine energy
Always present within
Challenging the patriarchy
Honoring duality
Otro yo 

Macho as in sacred
Matriarchs hold families together
And you
Can’t deny
How sacred
One is 

Macho as in hyper-independent trauma response
My grandma taught me
Anything you want done, you do it yourself
Can’t wait around for anyone to save you
Help yourself
Or else