Although the media are believed to be instrumental in transmitting messages about both traditional femininity and Black femininity to Black youth, there is little empirical evidence documenting this process. Accordingly, this study investigated media contributions to Black college students’ endorsement of both traditional gender ideologies and of the Jezebel, Sapphire, and Strong Black woman stereotypes about Black women. The protective nature of ethnic identity was also examined. Participants ( N = 404) completed measures assessing media consumption and involvement, endorsement of traditional gender ideologies and stereotypes about Black women, and ethnic identity. Regression analyses revealed support for our hypotheses, with consumption of music videos, movies, and perceived realism contributing most strongly to students’ endorsement of traditional gender ideologies and stereotypes about Black women. However, students with a strong sense of ethnic belonging were buffered from many of the negative influences of media use on these gender beliefs. The findings highlight the importance of considering culture-specific ideologies when examining links between Black students’ media use and gender beliefs.

Because much of the existing research examining sexual communication to African American youth focuses on demographic and parental factors predicting sexual risk behaviors, less is known about factors predicting sexual health, and little is understood about the contributions of peer communications. The current study aimed to expand existing approaches by assessing which socialization discourses communicated by parents and peers contribute to sexual risk and health outcomes (sexual assertiveness, positive sexual affect, and condom self-efficacy). Participants were 631 African American undergraduates (73% female) who indicated the extent to which they had received from their parents and peers each of 28 messages representing four cultural discourses: abstinence, relational sex, sex positive, and gendered sexual roles. As expected, parents were perceived to emphasize relational sex and abstinence messages more than peers, and peers were perceived to communicate sex-positive and gendered sex role messages more than parents. Greater exposure to abstinence messages predicted lower levels of sexual experimentation, whereas exposure to sex-positive messages predicted higher levels. In addition, exposure to relational sex and sex-positive messages predicted higher levels of sexual assertiveness and positive sexual affect. Implications are discussed concerning sexual communications that could help Black youth develop healthy sexual perspectives.

This study investigated the associations between Black adolescents' television usage and their endorsement of mainstream gender roles (MGR) and the strong Black woman (SBW) schema, which characterizes Black woman as emotionally strong, independent, and self-sacrificing. A total of 121 self-identified Black adolescents completed survey measures assessing their endorsement of the SBW and MGR, their viewership of 29 popular television programs (17 targeted to mainstream audiences and 12 targeted to a Black audience), and their total hours of weekly television viewing. Viewing Black-oriented programs was associated with stronger endorsement of SBW. However, viewing mainstream programs was associated with lower endorsement of MGR, specifically for boys. These findings offer some of the first indications of potential relations between Black adolescents' gender role schemas and the racial makeup of the television programs that they view. We discuss possibilities that youth's selection of television programs

Our data suggest the importance of cognitive appraisals and traits (i.e., comfort with uncertainty) in the process individuals use to make potentially life-saving vaccination decisions.

Purpose The aim was to examine gender differences in sexual risk communication among young couples and factors influencing communication. Methods Sample consisted of 296 young pregnant couples. We assessed individual, interpersonal, and community factors on sexual risk communication. The Actor-Partner Independence Model was used to assess actor and partner effects on sexual risk communication. Results For actor effects, being female, older, not being Hispanic, and higher condom use self-efficacy was associated with sexual risk communication. The significant partner effect was avoidant romantic attachment. Gender interactions were significant for high risk behaviors and family functioning. High risk behaviors and family functioning were associated with sexual risk communication for females but not for males. Conclusion The study emphasizes the need to promote sexual risk communication among young high risk couples, particularly for males. Family support could serve as a catalyst for sexual risk communication and other sexual protective behaviors among young couples.

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