ABSTRACT

This research paper presents a section of findings from a 3-month qualitative study investigating the gendered practices and lived experiences of four Jamaican adolescent inner-city boys. It embraced a narrative inquiry approach anchored in case studies to document and assess how school and community gendered practices were impacting the boys’ gendered behaviours and evolving masculinities in a post-colonial context. The data collected from semi-structured interviews, video diaries, created graphic novels, and observations revealed that the boys engaged their gendered identities through conformity to heteronormative hegemonic masculine practices, anti-feminine rhetoric, and homophobic epithets. Further, data revealed that they were often replicating school and community heteronormative practices and beliefs. They seemed compelled to conform to hetereomasculine norms even when it conflicted with their personal beliefs. The research concludes that a cultural shift in homohysteria and homophobia is necessary to allow for more inclusive masculinities among young men in inner-city communities.

摘要

本研究论文介绍了一项为期 3 个月的定性研究的一部分结果，该研究调查了四名牙买加市中心男孩的性别化实践和生活经历。它采用以案例研究为基础的叙述性调查方法，以记录和评估学校和社区性别化做法如何影响男孩的性别化行为和后殖民背景下不断发展的男性气质。从半结构化访谈、视频日记、创作的图画小说和观察中收集的数据表明，男孩通过遵守异性恋规范的霸权男性行为、反女性言论和恐同绰号来表达他们的性别认同。此外，数据显示，他们经常复制学校和社区的异性规范做法和信仰。他们似乎被迫遵守异性男性规范，即使这与他们的个人信仰相冲突。该研究得出的结论是，为了让市中心社区的年轻男性表现出更具包容性的男子气概，对同性恋歇斯底里和恐同症的文化转变是必要的。