Moonlight: Sexual Abuse Against Black Males and the Effect On Their Masculinity

Abstract

This research explored the lived experiences of collegiate Black and multiracial (Black being one of the races) males who have been sexually abused in the past and the effect on their masculinity. In this study, sexual abuse is self-defined as a minimum of one unwanted sexual encounter by the force of the perpetrator. The context of masculinity is defined by Harper (2004), who conceptualized masculinity among Black male achievers on six predominantly white campuses. Participants in Harper’s study defined masculinity within the structure of hegemonic gender norms, including dating and pursuing romantic (oftentimes sexual) relationships with women, any type of athletic activity (organized sports, individual exercise, and bodybuilding), competition through sports and video games, and accumulation and showing off of material possessions. In this mixed method study, Intersectionality and Critical Race Theories were used as theoretical frameworks within which to understand the relationship between past sexual abuse of Black male college students and their masculinity. Since there is limited empirical research that discusses sexually-abused Black or multiracial male multiracial college students, this study focused solely on providing insight about those experiences and how they relate to Black male masculinity.