Narratives of queer men of color in culturally-based fraternities making meaning of masculinities

Abstract

This constructivist grounded theory study examined how Queer Men of Color in culturally-based fraternities made meaning of their masculinities. Through two intensive interviews and a reflection journal activity, nine participants shared their constructions of masculinities before joining a culturally-based organization and how their thinking changed after affiliating with a fraternity. Specifically, Queer Men of Color first spoke to pre-collegiate experiences that largely shaped their views of masculinities. Next, participants discussed how culturally-based fraternities both reinforced hegemonic masculinity, as well as opened up the possibilities to construct a more productive view of masculinities. Implications are then offered for chapter advisors, fraternity and sorority life, and national organizations.

Shifting fraternity masculinities: Examining the relationships of the inclusion of queer membership and members’ masculinities.

“…Scholars have long been interested in the relationship between individuals' embodiments of masculinities and the cultures present within fraternity life (e.g., Duran & Garcia, 2023;Harris & Harper, 2014;McCready, 2019McCready, , 2020McGuire et al, 2020;Zernechel & Perry, 2017), showcasing how fraternities can give rise to positive or harmful manifestations of masculinities. Namely, in both research and public media, people associate fraternities with hegemonic forms of masculinities, an ideology that emphasizes men's dominance which is then reproduced in actions that are hyperaggressive, -sexual, and -destructive (Connell, 1987).…”

“…Designing this research thus meant that we believed fraternities are not confined to only function in these problematic manners. In doing so, we followed the insights of scholars who have detailed that fraternities are not one-dimensional in their perpetuation of masculinities, highlighting how fraternities can foster inclusive masculinities (e.g., Duran & Garcia, 2023; Harris & Harper, 2014; McGuire et al, 2020). This body of research underscores that when fraternity men hold each other accountable, they can create environments that affirm people inclusive of various identities (e.g., sexuality, gender).…”

“…For instance, in their research on how fraternity men display productive masculinities, Harris and Harper (2014) found members stressed the importance of calling out their fellow brothers when they perpetuated oppressive ideologies and they appealed to their fraternal values when doing so. Such actions when paired with allowing for space for emotional intimacy as seen in Duran and Garcia’s (2023), as well as in McGuire et al (2020) research, generate these more inclusive forms of masculinities that fraternities can strive for.…”

“…Important to note is that both of the aforementioned studies (Duran & Garcia, 2023; McGuire et al, 2020) focused on the experiences of men of color in fraternal organizations with Duran and Garcia’s (2023) project being focused on queer men of color specifically. Research such as this led us to wonder how the racial identities of chapter members also played a role in the relationship between inclusive masculinities and queer membership in the present study.…”

“…These hegemonic masculinities also have a particularly harmful impact on how queer 1 members within these organizations and chapters feel affirmed or welcomed in fraternity life (e.g., Garcia & Duran, 2021; Hesp & Brooks, 2009). Yet, within this body of scholarship, individuals have shown more inclusive forms of masculinities are possible (Anderson, 2008; Duran & Garcia, 2023; Harris & Harper, 2014; McGuire et al, 2020), representing a potential hope to shift fraternity cultures toward more equitable aims.…”