Coming of Age: How Adolescent Boys Construct Masculinities via Substance Use, Juvenile Delinquency, and Recreation

Abstract

This research aims to uncover aspects of adolescent masculine development among adult substance abusers. In-depth interviews and the resulting narrative provide the data for this exploratory analysis. Three main areas of adolescent masculinities are discussed: substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, and recreation. The findings are interpreted in light of Connell's conceptualization of hegemonic masculinities. Based on this sample, masculinities are constructed via a menu of adolescent behaviors that are descriptive of a working class lifestyle. It is the cultural context that sets the stage for substance abuse and its meaning to identity formation in adolescence, as well as in adulthood. Substance abuse in adolescence, along with other forms of juvenile delinquency and recreation, is a means of achieving masculinity. Unfortunately, for these men the use of substance abuse to achieve masculinity in adolescence becomes problematic later in adulthood. This article concludes that to successfully recover from substance abuse and addiction, these men must revisit and reframe their adolescent constructions of masculinity to better fit the problems and challenges they face as adults.

Factors Associated with Peer Sexual Harassment Victimization Among Taiwanese Adolescents

“…Among the common delinquent behaviors that include drinking, theft, and fighting, involvement in fights had the most salient relevance to boys' sexual harassment, which makes sense since such aggressive acts can better express one's confirmation of hegemonic masculinity while raising their risk of victimization at the same time. Although antisocial behaviors such as juvenile delinquency are means of achieving masculinity for adolescent boys, some studies on U.S. youth have found that these strategies may become problematic and get them into troubles later in adulthood (Sanders 2011;Brown and Burton 2010).…”

Man enough? Masculine discrepancy stress and intimate partner violence

“…However, men who place a high value on appearing masculine and who experience distress about being perceived as gender role discrepant may be at risk for behavioral and mental health problems. In fact, as masculine gender role has been linked to a number of negative behavioral and mental health outcomes (e.g., Alfred, Hammer, & Good, 2013; Mahalik, Lagan, & Morrison, 2006; Mahalik, Levi-Minzi, & Walker, 2007; O’Neil, 2008; Sanders, 2011) it follows that men who experience high levels of gender role discrepancy stress would be at risk to engage in a number of unsafe behaviors in attempt to demonstrate and equalize their perceived masculinity to that of other men. Indeed, they may likely possess inflated sensitivity to threat to their masculinity, not only within their intimate relationships, but in all variants of interpersonal relationships.…”

Masculine Discrepancy Stress, Teen Dating Violence, and Sexual Violence Perpetration Among Adolescent Boys

“…Indeed, prevention efforts that incorporate strategies to reduce gender role discrepancy stress may need to begin well before adolescence as gender socialization begins nearly at birth and the effects of socialization are evident very early in life. Additionally, considering the association of male gender role socialization to a number of deleterious health behaviors [29–36], the present research may have implications for the prevention of a number health outcomes. It follows that boys experiencing discrepancy stress may be at risk to engage in a number of unsafe behaviors (e.g., risky sexual behavior, fighting, binge drinking, risk-taking behavior) and suffer consequent health outcomes (e.g., sexually transmitted disease, depression, substance use disorders, injury) in attempting to demonstrate and equalize their perceived masculinity to that of other males.…”