Courtesy of Jim Cook, a citizen of Mexico

Although the machismo ideals are part of the traditions passed down by families over the years, not all families abide by the antagonistic definition of the cheating, angry macho. With time the definition of the macho changes. In a traditional family that observes the ideals of machismo, the place of the male is at work while the place of the woman is at home. Most Mexican families take the term machismo to signify confidence, pride, and control. No family strives to raise sons that will cheat on their wives, drink uncontrollably, and live off their families. Instead, education and economic progression is encouraged and emphasis is put on maintaining family and traditions, rather than destroying them. Because of this, weddings are a significant family event.

Statistically, it has been shown that different age and socioeconomic groups have different views of the role of the man and the woman.  The older generation and the less wealthy tend to agree more with the stereotypical view of men and women. The younger generations and populations with a higher economic standing lean away from the traditional views of the role of women in society. This is believed to be because the younger and wealthier are less traditional and more secular. They are slightly more progressive and women have a high chance of succeeding in work outside of the household. Nowadays, being called a macho is not always considered a compliment.