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- Title
“I Always Felt I Had to Prove My Manhood”: Homosexuality, Masculinity, Gender Role Strain, and HIV Risk Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men.
- Authors
Fields, Errol Lamont; Bogart, Laura M.; Smith, Katherine C.; Malebranche, David J.; Ellen, Jonathan; Schuster, Mark A.
- Abstract
Objectives. We explored gender role strain (GRS) arising from conflict between homosexuality and cultural conceptions of masculinity among young Black men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods. We conducted a categorical analysis (a qualitative, 3-stage, iterative analysis) of data from studies conducted in 2001 to 2006, which interviewed 35 men aged 18 to 24 years in 3 New York cities and Atlanta, Georgia. Results. Participants described rigid, often antihomosexual expectations of masculinity from their families, peers, and communities. Consistent with GRS, this conflict and pressure to conform to these expectations despite their homosexuality led to psychological distress, efforts to camouflage their homosexuality, and strategies to prove their masculinity. Participants believed this conflict and the associated experience of GRS might increase HIV risk through social isolation, poor self-esteem, reduced access to HIV prevention messages, and limited parental–family involvement in sexuality development and early sexual decision-making. Conclusions. Antihomosexual expectations of masculinity isolate young Black MSM during a developmental stage when interpersonal attachments are critical. GRS may influence sexual risk behavior and HIV risk and be an important target for HIV prevention.
- Subjects
UNITED States; HIV infection risk factors; ATTITUDE (Psychology); BLACK people; GAY men; MASCULINITY; MEDICAL cooperation; HEALTH outcome assessment; RESEARCH; RESEARCH funding; GENDER role; PSYCHOLOGICAL stress; QUALITATIVE research; DESCRIPTIVE statistics
- Publication
American Journal of Public Health, 2015, Vol 105, Issue 1, p122
- ISSN
0090-0036
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2105/AJPH.2013.301866