1. Masculinity: Key to Improving Life Outcomes for Young Men of Color Reconnecting Research  Giving  Practice Copyright TrueChild, Inc. 2010 1

2. 2 T rue C hild Research and action center partners w/ CBOs to improve program outcomes by integrating a focus on gender norms Esp. concerned w/ at-risk/disadvantaged youth (of-color or LGBT)

3. Gender?!*# 3 Gender Identity An inner sense of one’s self as masculine or feminine, male or female [Examples?] Gender as Trait Degree to which one displays physical or emotional characteristics considered feminine or masculine [Examples?] Gender Roles How each sex is subject to different expectations and pressures, which results in feminine or masculine behaviors and attitudes [Examples?]

4. Gender Norms/Stereo 4 Social Constructionists (1990s): Internalization of norms, scripts, expectations that organize thoughts and feelings and motivate, behavior

5. Gender Norms/Stereo 5 The “Man Box” [Examples?] Byron Hurt “Beyond Beats & Rhymes” We’re in this box, and in order to be in that box, you have to be strong, you have to be tough, you have to have a lot of girls, you gotta have money, you have to be a player or a pimp, you gotta to be in control, you have to dominate other men, and you know if you are not any of those things, then people call you soft or weak or a pussy or a chump or a faggot and nobody wants to be any of those things. So everybody stays inside the box.

6. Ford Foundation “Gender roles influence the way young men of color understand and engage educational opportunity, limit conceptions of opportunity, and expose them to victimization, abuse and violence.” Why We Can’t Wait: A Case for Philanthropic Action – Opportunities for Improving the Life Outcomes for African-American Males Littles, Bowers & Gilmer, Frontline Solutions 2005 6

7. Reproductive Health Masculinity Ideology linked to: Less intimate sexual relationships More sexual partners More unsafe sex Lower condom use Stronger belief in sexual relationships as adversarial Weaker belief in responsibility to prevent pregnancy Stronger belief in pregnancy as validating manhood 7

8. Reproductive Health Young Latinas & Machista femininity Docile, unassertive Deferential to male sexual prerogatives Venerate virginity, sexual purity Reverence for motherhood and maternity Don’t carry condoms Don’t discuss sex (esp. w/ men) Tolerate male infidelity, sexual coercion 8 Gender, culture, and power: Barriers to HIV- prevention strategies for women. CA Gomez & BVO Marin. Journal of Sex Research, 1996 -

9. Educ. Underachievement Black vs. white peers (age 9-10) – gender intensification period Grade points begin to drop, drop-out rates climb More likely to deny, devalue, forgo intellectual interests to avoid ridicule, shame of academic success. (Harris, 1995) “Acting White” -- Popularity decreases w/ GPA in integrated schools (note: M E Dyson’s “urban myth”) Estab. dominance hierarchies thru behaviors – public risk-taking, fighting, earning/enduring punishment, defying adult authority figures – most likely to disrupt educ engagement & increase interaction w/ criminal justice system 9 Roland Fryer, Harvard University from National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in Stuart Bucks’ Acting White: The Ironic Legacy of Desegregation (2009)

10. Other Areas Other Areas? Fatherhood Infant and maternal health School/Gang Violence Intimate Partner Violence/Girlfriend Abuse Physical health 10

11. Under-resourced Communities Gender codes esp. narrow & harsh Strong peer pressure on “the street” “Gender culture” tolerates strong punishment Few resources to enact constructively display masculinity [Examples? Counter-Examples?] 11

12. Hortensia Amaro 12 Sexuality research models… Overly focused on individual & assume sexual acts under full, conscious, individual control Ignore social construction of gender in sexual behavior Continues overlooking social & contextual factors crucial to understanding adolescent sexuality. Gender and Sexual Risk Reduction: Issues to Consider H Amaro – 1996 - Proceedings of the National Latino HIV/AIDS Love, sex, and power. Considering women's realities in HIV prevention H Amaro - 1995 - Cited by 691 Am Psychol. 1995 Jun;50(6):437-47.

13. The Disconnect 13 Hortensia Amaro (“Love, Sex, Power”) Overly focused on individuals Assume kids’ acts under full, conscious, control Ignore social construction of gender in adolescent, teen behavior Overlooking social, contextual factors crucial to understanding adolescent behavior in sexual situations Gender and Sexual Risk Reduction: Issues to Consider H Amaro – 1996 - Proceedings of the National Latino HIV/AIDS Love, sex, and power. Considering women's realities in HIV prevention H Amaro - 1995 - Cited by 691 Am Psychol. 1995 Jun;50(6):437-47.

14. Hortensia Amaro 14 Astounding as it may seem, the central role of… gender roles in [reproductive health] has been largely ignored…” “Studying sex in a gender vacuum” Gender and Sexual Risk Reduction: Issues to Consider H Amaro – 1996 - Proceedings of the National Latino HIV/AIDS Love, sex, and power. Considering women's realities in HIV prevention H Amaro - 1995 - Cited by 691 Am Psychol. 1995 Jun;50(6):437-47.

15. What it looks like: Programs 15

16. What it looks like: Policy 16

17. What it looks like: Funding 17

18. Reconnect Sex + Gender 18 Reconnect sexuality w/ gender norms, scripts, expectations in which sexual acts inevitably enacted Especially for adolescents Especially for under-resourced and at-risk youth Gender+sex connect a central feature of sex ed: Research Programs Policies

19. Reconnect Sex + Gender 19 Gender Transformative approach Make aware Challenge Redefine Address power imbalances Role of IPV & reducing all kinds GBV Men as change agents, not partners Gender equitable attitudes Geeta Gupta

20. Reconnect Sex + Gender 20 It’s All One curriculum – Population Council Comprehensive framework for sex ed. w/ strong gender analysis Because sex ed. curricula don’t address gender norms or critical reflection But gender norms key to preventing spread of HIV... bec. they profoundly affect young people’s ability to make better decisions & practice safer sex.

21. Reconnect Sex + Gender 21 Program H – Promundo (H for the Homens and Hombres -- men in Portuguese and Spanish) Helps young men think critically about rigid codes of manhood. Higher rates of condom use Improved relationships with sexual partners Greater acceptance of domestic work Lower rates of sexual harassment & IPV Latin Am. & Caribbean (Bolivia, Colombia, Jamaica, Peru) Asia (India, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam) Sub-Saharan Africa (Ethiopia, Mozambique and Namibia) Central America (Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama)

22. Reconnect Sex + Gender 22 MenEngage Alliance of 400+ NGOs engaging men/boys in reducing gender inequality & promote health/well-being of women/girls HIV/AIDs Gender-based violence Fatherhood & families Male-on-male violence Maternal & child health

23. Reconnect Sex + Gender 23 PEPFAR ( President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) Male Norms Initiative Evidence-based program that address male norms to reduce HIV risk Ethiopia, Namibia and Tanzania. Collaboration with EngenderHealth, Promundo, PATH

24. 9 Things You Can Do 24 1. Read the research at www.truechild.org/ReadTheResearch 2. Bring in a representative from groups already doing the work: TrueChild Thinking Man Consulting Men Can Stop Rape Promundo MenEngage 3. Host a local community discussion or workshop. 4.Integrate an analysis of gender norms into your research or program development 5. Ask your youth about how codes of manhood/femininity affect them (The "Manbox"). 6.Incorporate content about masculinity/femininity into programs, materials, websites. 7.Check out resources like It’s All One, MenEngage, Promundo 8.Bring in a nearby expert: www.truechild.org/ReadTheResearch 9. Drop an email about youth and masculinity/femininity to your listserv, post on your blog

25. 25 www.truechild.org