Respect and Reputation: The Construction of Masculinity in Poor African American Men

This qualitative study explores the effect of the availability and quality of support networks on young African American men’s models of masculinity. Two groups of young men comprised of ten men (group A) who had no reported criminal record and 11 men (group B) who had a reported history of criminal activity were interviewed individually with regards their masculinities strategies and their trajectory through age typical developmental experiences. Issues of parental availability, disciplinary regimes, support networks, school functioning, attitude to authority and peer relations were explored in depth. Findings suggested that young men who experienced strong oversight stayed out of criminal activities but were often unable to articulate and pursue age typical life goals due to difficulty accessing facilitating networks. Young men with weak oversight demonstrated a premature autonomy and tended to be embedded in networks that promoted high risk behaviors. The research highlights the importance of support networks that protect and facilitate through legitimate means the achievement of age appropriate masculinities.