From the Peaceable to the Barbaric by Beatriz Aldana Marquez

Author:Beatriz Aldana Marquez [Marquez, Beatriz Aldana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, General, Sociology
ISBN: 9781351016575
Google: AvaODwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2019-03-27T03:46:29+00:00

Gustavo’s charro cowboy team is a mixture of generational charro cowboys and charro cowboy rookies. His closest friend on the team is a charro cowboy rookie from rural village in Mexico, however in the three years that I got to know Gustavo, he revealed that some charro cowboys are better than others in subtle ways. When a charro cowboy with generational ties did not continuously perform well, he would make comments regarding his bloodlines. He would say, “It’s in their blood. They will get better”, while Gustavo would not justify lack of skill in charro cowboy rookies. His comments were coded to not appear exclusive to other charro cowboy rookies and to promote his well-liked persona.

Gustavo wanted to avoid the stereotype that charro cowboys can be racist and classist against marginalized ethnic groups in Mexico. During one of our interviews, Gustavo stated that he really resented the fact that charro cowboys were stereotyped as drunks, womanizers, and racists. He stated, “Some are but those [charro cowboys] don’t represent all of us.” Gustavo was referring to charro cowboys who distinguish themselves by invidious discrimination. Veblen would characterize this as the separation of the noble and ignoble classes that is characteristic of predatory and barbaric habits in society. Although Gustavo attempted to be more accepting of newcomers, his socialization could not be avoided. Even his own family members said that the charro cowboy had skills that were only passed down by blood.

Joel, a 22-year-old charro cowboy with generational ties, answered the question, “Can any person become a charro cowboy and compete in charreadas?” in a similar way to Gustavo. In his interview, Joel made sure to let me know that he believed that any man could become a charro cowboy if they put enough work into it. Joel is from a wealthy family therefore he knows a fair amount of charro cowboy rookies that have gained access into the community through financial means. However, like Gustavo, Joel also made similar comments that suggested that charro cowboys with generational ties have more claim to the tradition. Joel’s other-directed social character prevents him from deviating from the peer-group, in this case being in the younger generation of charro cowboys. For example, during a regional competition in Jalisco, Joel was sitting on a metal bar on the edge of the lienzo with a few of his charro cowboy teammates. They were observing the piales en la manga del lienzo that tends to be performed by the older generation of charro cowboys due to the amount of strength and practice this suerte requires. An older charro cowboy, about 60 years old, had correctly and successfully carried out the pial. The charro cowboy stopped the sprinting mare with ease before the 90-meter mark. There was moderate cloud of smoke from the friction of the rope and the horn of the saddle. Joel was very impressed by the maneuvering of the older charro cowboy and nudged his friends. He said:

This grand charro cowboy knows exactly what to do. He does not hesitate or stutter his actions.

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