American Journal of Men's Health (Sep 2014)
Understanding Masculinity in Undergraduate African American Men
Abstract
This study reports findings on views of masculinity with undergraduate Black men, which included interviews and focus groups ( N = 46) with participants ranging in age from 18 to 22 years. Specifically, this study explored how Black men define being a man and being a Black man. Undergraduate Black males at a historically Black college and university ( N = 25) and a predominately White institution ( N = 21) in the Southeastern United States were recruited to participate in this study. Through the use of thematic analysis, findings indicated that three levels of masculinity exist for Black men: what it means to be a man, what it means to be a Black man, and who influences male development. Implications and recommendations for future research and practice are discussed.