It is in the context of a dominant masculinity ideology, which opposes or devalues non-heterosexually identified men, that many young GBQ males must develop resilience and wellness. With constant challenges to their claims of authentic maleness due to their sexual orientation, they struggle to simultaneously develop strategies to negotiate dominant messages about masculinity that are difficult to change while also asserting a sense of self that resists those dominant messages. This quote from a study participant reflects the tenuous position through which many young gay, bisexual, and questioning (GBQ) males must navigate. We don't have to live with them.” (Gilbert, 17 yr. “I just think, I just think that they're a standard, they're just things that we were raised up with and we just have to fight them. These data suggest a complex picture of GBQ male adolescents’ management of masculinity expectations and serve as a basis for culturally and developmentally specific HIV prevention programs. Negotiation strategies served a variety of functions, including avoiding anti-gay violence, living up to expected images of masculinity, and creating unique images of personhood free of gender role expectations.

Participants reported a range of responses to traditional masculinity ideologies, most of which centered on balancing presentations of masculine and feminine characteristics. We qualitatively analyzed interviews with 39 GBQ African American, Latino, and European American male adolescents (15–23 years old). In order to promote the well-being of GBQ young men, exploration of their reactions and responses to dominant images of masculinity is needed.

dominant masculinity ideology, which devalues men who are not heterosexually identified, many gay, bisexual and questioning (GBQ) adolescent males must develop their own affirming and health-promoting sense of masculinity.

Farm Boys by Will Fellows