Measuring Gender Role Conflict, Internalized Stigma, and Racial and Sexual Identity in Behaviorally Bisexual Black Men

Abstract

Black men who have sex with men and women (BMSMW) experience pressure to fill hypermasculine ideals and may not identify with “gay” cultural norms. Existing measures of gender role expectations and internalized homophobia are not culturally appropriate for BMSMW. Researchers generally measure categorical identification with race, gender, and sexual orientation groups separately, whereas BMSMW may identify with multiple categories. We modified the Gender Role Conflict Scale to create the M-GRCS and the Internalized Homophobia Scale to include biphobia (Internalized Bi/Homophobia Scale, IBHS). To examine identification at the intersection of race, gender, and sexual orientation, we created 11 Integrated Race and Sexuality Scale (IRSS) items. With data from 429 BMSMW, we conducted exploratory factor analysis of the 59 items using categorical principal axis factoring with unweighted least squares extraction and Promax factor rotation. We created simple-summated multi-item scales and evaluated their construct validity. The rotated solution yielded four factors with 47 items and a simple factor structure: M-GRCS defined two factors (α = .93 for restricted emotionality/affection; .87 for success/power/competition); the IBHS (α = .89) and IRSS (α = .74) each defined a single factor. The IRSS factor was positively correlated with the Lukwago Racial Pride Scale, r(417) = .40. The IBHS factor was negatively correlated with the IRSS factor, r(414) = − .22. The two M-GRCS factors suggest that the construct of hypermasculinity impacts BMSMW. The high IBHS reliability indicates that homophobia and biphobia were positively correlated in this sample. These three scales have potential for future studies with BMSMW.

Impact of Role Conflict on Intention to Leave Job With the Moderating Role of Job Embeddedness in Banking Sector Employees

“…Role conflict may also arise when family issues interfere with job happiness and job performance. Dividing time between job and family (multiple roles) may lead to inter-role conflict since these responsibilities may deplete one-another's resources (Del Pino et al, 2021). To fulfill the needs of one job, the expectations of the other roles are ignored.…”

Internalized homophobia and social well-being among Black sexual minority men living with HIV: The mediating role of LGBT community connectedness and racial, gender, and sexual identity integration.

“…The IRSS (Del Pino et al, 2022) was constructed using an intersectional framework to simultaneously assess both “internalized pride and conflict regarding participants’ status as male members of minority groups defined by sexual behavior and race” (p. 1022). IRSS items specifically mention “homosexual and bisexual men.” Similarly, we used a modified version of the Internalized Homophobia Scale (Herek et al, 2009) which also references “gay/bisexual” persons.…”

“…Racial, gender, and sexual identity integration was assessed using the IRSS (Del Pino et al, 2022). Eleven items assessed levels of internalized conflict and pride regarding participants' identity as men who are Black and gay/bisexual.…”

“…Black sexual minority men's integration of their racial, gender, and sexual identities may also serve as a mediator of the relationship between internalized homophobia and social well-being. Grounded in an intersectional approach to measuring racial and sexual identity among behaviorally bisexual Black men of various sexual identities, del Pino and colleagues developed the Integrated Race and Sexuality Scale (IRSS) to "examine identification at the intersection of race, gender, and sexual orientation" (Del Pino et al, 2022Pino et al, , p. 1019. In this same study, higher scores on this scale were found to be associated with greater racial pride and lower internalized bi/homophobia.…”

Effects of internalised racism and internalised homophobia on sexual behaviours among black gay and bisexual men in the USA: a systematic review protocol

“…Black gay and bisexual men experience a constellation of racism, homophobia, biphobia and other stigma that has a negative impact on their health outcomes, [34][35][36] including HIV outcomes. Racism and homophobia exist at multiple levels of the social ecology; so too exists methods for assessing external and internalised forms of these stigmas.…”