Major
Psychology
Research Abstract
Young Black men learn what it means to be a man from different sources, including family, church, school, and the media. Traditional views on masculinity can be difficult for men to adhere to if they do not identify with current gendered social constructions. The current study examined how Black gay and bisexual men navigate masculine ideologies instilled in them and interpret these expectations as emerging adults. Participants, 20 Black gay and bisexual men (Mage = 22.8, SD = 1.7) took part in a semi-structured qualitative interview examining their experiences with religion, sexuality, gender expectations, and HIV. Using grounded theory, the data revealed that a majority of participants recognized the norms they learned and filtered out the negative aspects of masculine gender roles. Many young Black men can differentiate the negative traits (hiding emotion, acting tough) from the positive traits (being responsible, taking care of family). While these men are able to effectively navigate positive and negative gender norms, the media and societal norms should be mindful of the messages portrayed of manhood.
Faculty Mentor/Advisor
Dr. Ja'Nina Walker, PhD.
What it means to be a man: How emerging adult Black gay and bisexual men navigate gender norms
Young Black men learn what it means to be a man from different sources, including family, church, school, and the media. Traditional views on masculinity can be difficult for men to adhere to if they do not identify with current gendered social constructions. The current study examined how Black gay and bisexual men navigate masculine ideologies instilled in them and interpret these expectations as emerging adults. Participants, 20 Black gay and bisexual men (Mage = 22.8, SD = 1.7) took part in a semi-structured qualitative interview examining their experiences with religion, sexuality, gender expectations, and HIV. Using grounded theory, the data revealed that a majority of participants recognized the norms they learned and filtered out the negative aspects of masculine gender roles. Many young Black men can differentiate the negative traits (hiding emotion, acting tough) from the positive traits (being responsible, taking care of family). While these men are able to effectively navigate positive and negative gender norms, the media and societal norms should be mindful of the messages portrayed of manhood.
