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Queering Masculinity: Manhood and Black Gay Men in College
- Spectrum: A Journal on Black Men
- Indiana University Press
- Volume 1, Number 2, Spring 2013
- pp. 83-110
- 10.2979/spectrum.1.2.83
- Article
- Additional Information
This qualitative study explores Black gay male undergraduates' construction of manhood and masculine identity(-ies) as well as how these beliefs affected their academic and social experiences in college. Analyzing in-depth interviews with 29 Black gay male collegians, we found that participants construct and understand manhood and their masculine identities in one of three ways: (a) accepting, adhering to, and performing traditionally masculine norms, (b) intentionally, or subconsciously, challenging hegemonic notions of Black masculinity through their behaviors and self-beliefs, and (c) recognizing that their masculine identity(-ies) are influenced by other social factors and locations. Implications for researchers, counselors, and higher education practitioners are highlighted and recommendations for future research and theory are provided.