Masculinity, femininity, appearance ideals, and the Black body: Developing a positive raced and gendered bodily sense of self

Through the analysis of the experiences of 60 African-American/Black college students, this project addresses gaps in feminist work on the body and sociopsychological work on impression management by demonstrating how narrow constructions of the Black masculine and feminine body (specifically in relation to hairstyle, skin color, body size, and modes of dress) can detrimentally affect self-image. More concretely, my interview data suggest that Black men and women learn to differently present, manage, and negotiate their bodies in accordance with social norms. Reinforced through inter- and intra-group peer interactions and the perpetuation of stereotypical images of Black men and women present in the media and mainstream consumer culture, the men learn to physically, materially, and behaviorally "do" or claim Black masculinity (body work); the women, in contrast, "engage" Black femininity based primarily on outer appearance and to a lesser extent based on behavioral attributes (beauty work). Men whose ascribed or achieved traits fail to live up to this constructed thug-like masculine image in some way are classified as effeminate or gay, acting White, or pretty boys; women who do not conform are labeled as emasculating bitches or lesbians. Even if "doing" masculinity or "engaging" femininity is not fully embraced or internalized, in both cases, maintaining these raced, gendered, classed, and sexualized idealized images comes at a high price---it often requires self-deception, bodily alienation, and inauthentic intra- and interracial interactions. At some point during their lives, most of the men reported feeling insecure, hurt, depressed, or suicidal due to this confining notion of masculinity; the women also suffered from depression and were more apt to struggle with differing forms of disordered eating. This type of bodily impression management also has a lasting and damaging effect on the relationship work processes of the LBGTQ and heterosexual Black men and women on campus. More often than not, limiting constructions of what it means to look like and to be a Black man or a Black woman interfere with (or prevent) more genuine interactions from occurring within and outside of the Black community.