Men of Color and Gender Role Strain
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Men of Color and Gender Role Strain
According to Lazur (1983, 1992), a male develops and adjusts his gender role by learning what he is expected to do and adapting to environmental needs. Through the interaction with the environment every day, he can give feedback to those people around him. The environment helps him to know whether his behaviors are acceptable or not.
The characteristics of the “cool pose,” are pride, being powerful, social competence, redefining themselves through hardworking, the way they walk and facial expressions. The African American males show that they are proud, strong, powerful and in control of the whole world. They do this to counteract stress as a way of adapting to the circumstances they encounter in the environment where they live. These characteristics related to African American history of oppression, racism, and distrust of the dominant society because they express bitterness, as they try to preserve their culture to maintain their dignity and respect.
The two costs of the “cool pose” are the behavior of African American males prevents them from having expressive and open emotional relationships with women. Though the display of power may be exiting to African American women, they do not enjoy emotional intimacy since African American males do not express themselves in a meaningful way. The other cost is the mistreatment of others as well as themselves where they are under pressure to prove their manhood and their emotions result in accident, homicide and substance abuse.
The relationship between high macho males as it relates to alcoholism and self-esteem is that the probability of heavy drinking is low because their powerlessness makes them compensate for what they do not have. The self-esteem of high macho males is low compared to low macho males.
The Latino culture is no longer heavily patriarchal. What shifts are occurring? The change from agrarian to an industrial economy makes children who lived with the family to make individual choices due to the change in culture. This change leads to stress as well as conflict within the family. The first generational upholds the original culture and values while the second and third generation wants the culture of origin and adapt to the current changes. There is variation in gender roles where men share decision making with women. Women have greater equality and opportunities compared to the expectations of traditional values. Latino men have been denied political and economic access to resources which increased stress and alcohol provides relief from inferiority, powerlessness, and subordination.
The American-Indian tribe culture is defined in terms of family structure, language, a custom that exists between tribes and having 25% Indian blood. The culture defines gender roles for American Indians where dominant culture leads to the unavailability of the male role. American Indian tribe plays a role in individual identity which brings a sense of belonging and security forming an interdependent system. Everybody is important in the functioning of the tribe. The judgment of individual behavior is based on its benefit to the tribe.
According to Perez (1993), the current problems of American-Indian life come from the stress incurred by dependence on a dominant foreign force. The current problems American-Indian males face are heart disease, accidents, cancer, and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis and suicide. These are the leading causes of death according to the department of health in the United States.
Some characteristics of Asian-American culture concerning gender roles are the maintenance of a sense of obligation that is instilled by the parents, married sons maintain strong allegiance to parents, restraining emotions in public, authority is rooted in a patriarchal system where males are highly valued.
Some strains Asian-American males face are family values and loyalties, religious philosophy and economic pursuits. They attempt to make sense of their gender roles as individuals within the cultural context and the demands of the whole world.
Two ways to reduce gender role strain among minority men is by balancing personal needs with cultural demands and expectations of the world. Also, interactions with the environment help minority men to know what is expected of them and how to respond to societal expectations.