Masculinity, muscularity, and HIV sexual risk among gay and bisexual men of color.

Abstract

Previous research has highlighted the association between HIV sexual risk behaviors, muscularity concerns, and masculinity among gay and bisexual men (GBM). A few studies that explored these issues, however, have used relatively small sample sizes and predominantly White GBM samples. In addition, little is known about whether a drive for muscularity and perceptions of masculinity are associated with HIV sexual risk behaviors among GBM of color. This community-based study examined the association between drive for muscularity, masculinity, and HIV sexual risk among a sample of 389 GBM of color in Toronto. In multivariable analyses, drive for muscularity and masculinity were significantly associated with HIV sexual risk, after controlling for sociodemographic variables and internalized homophobia. Findings suggest that a desire to be more muscular or a disappointment with one’s musculature, as well as an endorsement of body image and penis size as indicators of masculinity may play a role in HIV sexual risk behaviors. This study is among the first to examine the role of drive for muscularity and notions of masculinity in relation to HIV sexual risk exclusively among an ethnoracially diverse sample of GBM. Further research is needed to better understand the link between body image and masculinity to reduce HIV risk among GBM of color.

“It Takes a Man to Put Me on the Bottom”: Gay Men’s Experiences of Masculinity and Anal Intercourse

“…Efforts to engage with gay men in issues relating to their behavior in anal intercourse might in future account for their beliefs about and subjective experiences of masculinity. Quantitative research has already demonstrated that men who aspire to be hegemonically masculine are more likely to engage in condomless anal intercourse, which is an HIV-risk behavior (Brennan et al, 2015). Future qualitative research might be oriented to examining how beliefs about masculinity are associated with condom negotiations between gay men.…”

Trajectories of Internalized Heterosexism among Young Men Who have Sex with Men

“…Also, in a systematic review of the empirical literature on internalized heterosexism, Grey et al (2013) found that it was generally higher for men compared to women and this self-stigma was associated with greater endorsement of and adherence to gender norms for men in prior studies. Other research supports that internalized heterosexism is associated with greater gender role conflict (Bingham et al 2013), drive for muscularity (Brennan et al 2015), and idealizing of masculinity (Sanchez et al 2010) in sexual minority men. These findings are in conjunction with results showing that sexual minority men tend to see themselves as more masculine than feminine, with great importance placed on masculinity as well as strong desires to be more masculine (Sanchez et al 2010).…”

“…In contrast to the mixed findings on other individual differences, the research seems to reveal stronger support for sexual identity and gender related differences. In research with seuxal minority adults, individuals who identify as gay report lower internalized heterosexism compared to those who identify as bisexual or heterosexuals who engage in same-sex sexual behavior (e.g., Amola and Grimmett 2015; Brennan et al 2015; Quinn et al 2015). These findings also have been shown in longitudinal work, whereby bisexual youth had an increase in internalized heterosexism over the course of a year in comparison to gay or lesbian youth (Rosario et al 2002).…”

Hidden, visceral and traumatic: a dramaturgical approach to men talking about their penis after surgery for penile cancer

“…This is arguably illustrated in the focus on penis size in the young and healthy in the psychology of men and masculinity (Brennan et al . ; Johnston et al . ; Lever et al .…”