Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116989

Miguel A. Muñoz-Laboy, DrPH, Robert Sember, PhD, Ernesto Vasquez del Aguila, MA, Chanel Haliburton, Carmen Yon, Alea Holman, Daniel Castellanos, MA, and Richard Parker, PhD. Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 722 W 168th St 9th Floor, New York, NY 10032, 212-342-0285, mam172@columbia.edu

One of the most important limitations in theorizing the sexual decision-making of young people is the lack of knowledge of the framework of meanings around sexuality and sexual behavior for ethnic minority adolescent males. For adolescent males, engagement or disengagement from cultural narratives of masculinity forms an important backdrop for constructions of meaning around sexuality and sexual behavior. These narratives of masculinity take multiple forms, from prescriptions from parents about responsible behavior to presentations of “hypermasculinity” in popular culture that highlight an urban aesthetic of physical strength, athletic prowess, and emotional stoicism in relationships. The extent to which these narratives are adhered to, discarded or are transformed within individual lives, and their effects on behavior, have not been examined in the literature on ethnic minority adolescent males. Understanding cultural narratives of masculinity is critical to advance an effective social agenda that promotes gender equity and sexual health among urban youth. The primary aim of this on-going ethnographic study is to unpack narratives of masculinity that facilitate or prevent risk but also promote power inequities in the realities of the lives of young people. This paper will focus on one aspect of the study: analyzing the relationship between Hip Hop, masculinity and ethnicity with respect to the sexuality of the research participants. These preliminary findings emerged from the initial 50 in-depth interviews and 6 months of ethnographic observations in two neighborhoods of New York City.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe an alternative framework for studying urban youth sexual health.
• Analyze the relationship between cultural narratives of masculinity and sexual health.
• Discuss preliminary findings from the study.

Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Adolescent Health

Awards: Excellence in Abstract Submission among All Presenters--Award Winner - Recipient

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.