'I dared to tel ': Young Paraguayan men's navigation of contrastingnormative masculinities and their romantic relationships Public
Fleming, Paul Joseph (2011)
Published
Abstract
Background: As emerging adults, adolescents try to create their gender identity for their peers and community. Romantic and sexual relationships are a way that young men can define themselves and their masculine identity. However, young men's resulting sexual decisions can affect their successful transition into the man they want to be, as well as STI and HIV rates, and rates of adolescent pregnancies. Peer groups and families play a big role in shaping young men's perceptions of normative behavior. Men can use their health-related behaviors to construct their masculinity. Behaviors that can be negative for young men's health actually can be normative and help improve their social status and negotiation of power. Methods: In the Bañado Sur neighborhood in Asuncion, Paraguay, five focus groups were conducted with male peer groups ranging in age from 14 to 19. The peer groups were asked about normative behaviors for young men in their neighborhood and about romantic and sexual relationship dynamics. Half the members from each peer group were selected to participate in individual interviews that examined the same topics but from an individual perspective. The qualitative data were analyzed to understand dynamics between relationship behaviors and masculine identity for young men in the neighborhood. Results: Two different types of masculine norms were described ('provider' and 'macho man') as well as two different types of romantic relationships ('casual' and 'formal'). The language used to describe each spectrum of behaviors was very similar and represented the connection between masculine norms and romantic relationships. In addition, the perceived norms for the neighborhood were much more 'macho man' than the reported behaviors of the young men. Conclusions: Perceived norms cannot change unless young men are willing to speak out about their 'non-normative' behaviors. Because of the risk for teasing, few young men are willing to do this. This provides an evidence base for needing more information on actual attitudes and behaviors of young men (compared to the prevailing thought about those attitudes and behaviors). In addition, interventions should give young men a space to speak out about 'non-normative' behaviors in order to begin changing norms.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1.1 Research Questions 1.2 Specific aims 1.3 Significance Review of the Literature 2.1 Masculinity, sexual health and relationship behaviors of men 2.2 Social environment and interaction of adolescent boys 2.3 Latino masculinity and the Paraguay context 2.4 Summary Methods 3.1 Overview 3.2 Ethical Considerations 3.3 Study Site 3.4 Study Population 3.5 Data Collection Methods 3.6 Participant Recruitment 3.7 Data Collection Process 3.8 Data Analysis 3.9 Data Quality and Limitations Results 4.1 Masculinity and its influences in the Bañado Sur 4.1.1 Young men's conceptualization of masculine behavior 4.1.2 Which male prototype? 4.1.3 Who influences the young men? 4.1.4 Who do the young men listen to? 4.1.5 How are the young men's gender norms influenced? 4.2 Masculine behavioral norms and the young men's behaviors 4.2.1 Relationships 4.2.2 Sex and condom use 4.2.3 Drinking, smoking and drugs Conclusions 5.1 Misperception of the norms 5.2 Perceived norms and behavioral theory 5.3 Potential responses for the community 5.4 Implications for future research Bibliography Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 5
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