Maliche, the Mexican mistress of Cortes. Courtesy of Hulton Archive.

In the Mexican household, mothers and sisters act as semi servants, since both men and women must adhere to machismo principles of the man being head of the household. Many might say that women are more responsible than men because of the privilege men receive. Women are expected to be born disciplined, and selfless. Fathers often leave their children, resulting in abandoned mothers left to raise the child or children on their own. Some families believe girls should not study, that schooling is for boys and men, giving men the upper hand again. Almost ironically, it is typically mothers who raise and school boys on how to be an honorable man, and help them aim to reach macho standards.