Traditional gender roles and alcohol use among Latinas/os: A review of the literature

Abstract

Research indicates alcohol use among Latinas/os occurs within a gendered context. Scholars surmise this is due to traditional gender roles (TGRs) of Latina/o culture, but without an analysis of the literature these assertions are unclear. Thus, this article provides a narrative review of the extant TGRs and alcohol use literature among Latinas/os. Thirteen articles met inclusion criteria. Across studies, findings were mixed, aside from those suggesting TGRs composed of hypermasculinity (i.e., traditional machismo) were robustly related to drinking. Tests of mediation and moderation indicated TGRs and alcohol use should be assessed within a multivariate framework. Future research should address these inconsistencies through methodological refinements. In addition, we suggest the integration of existing theoretical perspectives to assist with scholarly development in this area.

Keywords:

• Hispanic
• Latina/o
• machismo
• marianismo
• alcohol

Acknowledgments

Much of this review formed the basis for the first author's doctoral dissertation. Both authors thank Drs. Michael R. Baumann and Brandy Piña-Watson for their respective insight during the earlier stages of this work.

Additional information

Funding

Jessica Perrotte was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number F31AA026477. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.