NCJ Number
178364
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: December 1997 Pages: 166-196
Date Published
1997
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This study examined the social construction of values related to gender among populations of low-income adolescent and young adult males in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a view toward determining attitudes related to masculinity, fatherhood, and violence toward women.
Abstract
Qualitative research methods were selected, specifically, focus group discussions and in-depth individual interviews. Although the 127 youths and young adults (ages 14 to 30) who participated in the study were not statistically representative, they were generally representative of their respective subcultures of low-income and working-class youth. In addition to the focus groups, eight in-depth individual interviews were conducted with adolescent and adult males who had previously participated in focus groups and who had been identified as progressive, i.e., more likely to question traditional machista values. The study found rigid gender roles with males who displayed widespread machista values. Males generally viewed violence toward women as acceptable in many circumstances, with more widespread violence against women reported among youth who lived in favelas (low-income, marginal areas of the city). Nonetheless, the research identified a small but important minority of progressive males who questioned traditional machista attitudes. In focus group discussions, more progressive males were frequently criticized by machista males. Individual in-depth interviews found that being able to question predominant machista values was related to having a meaningful relationship with a role model who promoted nontraditional gender roles. The discussion highlights ways of working with adolescent males to encourage more flexible gender roles. 2 tables, 4 notes, and 29 references