Masculine Ideology, Norms, and HIV Prevention Among Young Black Men

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between masculine ideology, adherence to norms, and HIV prevention among young Black heterosexual and gay men on the campus of a historically Black college/university. The data from four focus groups and nine individual interviews (N = 35) were aggregated and two recurring themes emerged: sexual communication and mate availability. Additional themes related to HIV prevention were stigma, protection, and testing. The importance of investigating masculinity with young men is highlighted and implications for professionals working with college students to prevent the transmission of HIV are included.

KEYWORDS:

• masculinity
• ideology
• norms
• HIV
• Black/African American
• men
• HBCU

Notes

*Age data missing for three men.

“Non-heterosexual” included gay and bisexual identifications; however, no students identified as bisexual and all asked to be identified as homosexual/gay. Therefore, students will be referred to as heterosexual-identified and gay-identified throughout the article.