Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
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A qualitative analysis of beliefs about masculinity and gender socialization among U.S. mothers and fathers of school-age boys
DeGue Sarah , Singleton Robyn , Kearns Megan . Psychology of Men & Masculinities 2023 No Pagination Specified Internalization of culturally dominant masculine gender role norms can have harmful impacts on the physical and emotional health of men and boys. Although parents play an important role in influencing gender-related beliefs in their children, limited research has examined how contemporary parents conceptualize masculinity and their role in gender socialization. The present study conducted 13 focus groups with Black, Latino, and White parents (N = 83) of school-age boys from rural and urban areas in a large Southeastern state in the United States. Parent beliefs about masculinity existed across a spectrum from "rigid" (representing narrow, culturally dominant masculine norms) to "flexible" (defining a broader set of behaviors and attitudes as masculine). In general, more flexible beliefs were expressed by mothers than fathers and by White than Black and Latino parents. Most parents reacted positively to messages about potential harms associated with restrictive masculinity norms; however, many saw these issues primarily as parenting challenges (e.g., teaching boys to resist negative peer influences) rather than related to gender socialization. Some unique themes also emerged within racial/ethnic groups, with Black parents noting the impact of racial discrimination on societal expectations for Black men and fathers and Latino parents describing generational shifts toward more equitable gender role attitudes and parenting practices. These findings highlight the need for more complex and nuanced messages about masculinity norms and their relationship to health and well-being and can help inform the development of interventions to promote healthy masculine gender socialization, increase health equity, and prevent injury and violence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Culturally dominant masculine gender role norms (e.g., emotional stoicism, social and physical dominance, independence, toughness) are associated with negative social and health consequences for boys and men, along with public health and safety concerns related to risk behaviors and violence perpetration. Parents and caregivers of young boys are an ideal target for preventative interventions addressing these norms in early and middle childhood, when gender socialization begins. Findings from this study suggest variation by gender and race/ethnicity in contemporary parents' attitudes toward masculinity and norms-challenging messages about parenting boys and can inform the development of social norms-based and parenting interventions to improve health equity and address multiple public health concerns, including injury and violence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) |
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