Dissertation
An exploration of college-educated, first-generation Mexican-American men's meaning and experiences of manhood: implications for family therapy
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Jun 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6942
Abstract
The experience and meaning of manhood is varied and complex. For Mexican-American men in the United States of America, many circumstances complicate the development of a healthy sense of manhood. Social science literature contains a historical and ever-present tendency to use the concept of machismo to describe Mexican-American masculinity as the sum total of the meaning and experience of manhood. Although an expansive literature attributes machismo to Mexican-American men, few empirical studies seek to understand the meaning and experience of masculinity in this population (Bitar, Kimball, Gee & Bermúdez, 2008; Hurtado & Sinha, 2008). To fill empirical gaps in the meaning and experiences of manhood among Mexican-American men, this heuristic inquiry explored the meaning and experiences of 10 first-generation, college-educated men between the ages of 25 and 40. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of Chicana feminism (Lucero-Liu & Christensen, 2009) and symbolic interactionism (Charon, 2007), this heuristic inquiry also captured how participants interpreted the relationship among their ethnic identity, academic success, and experiences of manhood. Participants identified significant influences on their identity such as role models and sociocultural factors. Findings illustrated that the concept of machismo impacted participants' experience of manhood. Participants' education and level of consciousness mediated their ability to define manhood. Furthermore, the findings illustrated that being educated influenced their relationship to themselves, others, and their community-a process described as El Deber or "the duty" to give back to others and be positive role models in their communities. Based on the findings of this study, implications for clinical practice, training, and future research are provided.
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Details
- Title
- An exploration of college-educated, first-generation Mexican-American men's meaning and experiences of manhood
- Creators
- Yajaira S. Curiel - DU
- Contributors
- Kenneth V. Hardy (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Counseling and Family Therapy; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 6942; 991014632570704721