Power and Race in Black and White Men's Perceptions and Experiences of Manhood

Traditional masculinity delineates a hegemonic set of beliefs and expectations about manhood in the United States that are most applicable to White men and marginalize men of color. In this study, we used an intersectional, qualitative framework to examine the role of race and power in shaping Black (n = 11) and White (n = 12) men's perceptions and experiences of manhood. Analysis of focus group data revealed two ways in which power was linked to manhood. First, men expressed that manhood was linked with responsibility-however, Black men were responsible to a wider network of individuals (e.g., extended family, the Black community) than White men, who were primarily responsible to their immediate family. Nevertheless, both groups of men perceived that responsibility provided them with power and status, but was also precarious. Second, although both Black and White men acknowledged their gender privilege, they simultaneously positioned themselves as targets of oppression, but in different ways. Together, our results suggest that whereas White men's experiences of manhood are consistent with traditional masculinity, Black men's experiences are more relational and interdependent in nature, reflecting racial power dynamics and sociohistorical context. Our intersectional approach enabled us to critically analyze race for both Black and White men, thereby naming and interrogating Whiteness in experiences of manhood and destabilizing its status as normative. Our results have implications for researchers and mental health practitioners, calling them to critically consider the role of race, power, and privilege-including Whiteness-when engaging with masculinity and manhood.