Media representations of popular culture figures and the construction of Black masculinities.

Abstract

The present study explores the construction of masculinity among young Black men. Of central concern is young Black men's subjective reflections on the role that popular culture and media have in informing how they understand and define their ideas of masculinity. The study uses interview data from a larger pilot study, the Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health Project, where participants sought to elucidate perceptions of the intersections between manhood and mental health. Study participants included 18-to 26-year-old Black men (n ϭ 11) enrolled at a university in the Midwest. When asked to describe and identify their definitions of manhood, participants referred to well-known male media figures of the past and present, and specifically identified various social movement leaders, athletes, and entertainers who were central to their conceptualization of manhood. Moreover, men identified both positive and negative qualities of these popular figures to determine aspects they either aspired to adopt or reject when forming their own ideas about manhood. Study findings show that popular culture figures play complex roles in Black men's constructions of masculinity while uncovering that Black men use the images of these figures to deconstruct harmful, antiquated stereotypes and tropes associated with Black masculinity. Popular culture figures are also used to highlight and grapple with complex messages about the disposability of Black men's lives.

An Online Behavioral Health Intervention Promoting Mental Health, Manhood, and Social Support for Young Black Men: The YBMen Project

“…The men in the study also discussed how the mental and emotional health of celebrities play a role in how they, as Black men, view themselves. This has also been reported in previous studies (Goodwill et al, 2018) and speaks to the importance of mainstream media when engaging Black men in health promotion programs.…”

“…The Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) project (Goodwill et al, 2018;Watkins, 2019;Watkins, et al, 2017) was launched in 2014. This psychoeducational, behavioral health intervention was delivered as a 5-week, social media-based mental health education and social support program for young Black men.…”

Male Athlete Representations in Men’s Magazines: A Study in Mediated Sport Stacking

“…White participants considered themselves the most competent in sports such as swimming, rowing, snow skiing, and hockey. As scholars have explained (Goodwill et al, 2019), adolescent athletes seek to emulate the high-profile athletes they observe in the media, and a cycle of participation, driven in part by racial considerations, stands to develop (Comeaux & Harrison, 2004; Singer & May, 2010).…”

“…The study explores the concept of mediated sport stacking , observing that while magazines may feature and even celebrate athletes of color, the publications also may constrain athletes by limiting the number and type of sports in which they compete (see Page, 1997; Tucker, 2003). These limitations stand to affect perceptions among magazine audiences (Goodwill et al, 2019), contributing to cultural expectations of sport selection and participation (Goldsmith, 2003; L. Harrison, Lee, & Belcher, 1999).…”

‘That is why we raise children’: African American fathers' race‐related concerns for their adolescents and parenting strategies

“…Parents serve a critical role in preparing youth to cope with racial https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.06.001 Received 14 September 2019; Received in revised form 15 April 2020; Accepted 1 June 2020 discrimination and promoting positive outcomes (Anderson & Stevenson, 2019;Neblett, Rivas-Drake, & Umana-Taylor, 2012). Though much discussion of parental contributions has centered on mothers, there has been a push to further explore the ways in which fathers can promote positive outcomes, particularly as their children transition through adolescence (Goncy & van Dulmen, 2010;McKinney & Renk, 2008). Further, given the overwhelmingly negative portrayals and depictions of African American fathers, scholars have articulated the need to understand how larger racial and economic contexts, for both fathers and their children, shape their parenting beliefs and strategies (Abdill, 2018;Bowman & Forman, 1997;Cooper et al, 2019;Franklin, Boyd-Franklin, & Draper, 2002;Johnson & Young, 2016;McAdoo, 1997).…”