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Masculinities and ethnicities: Ethnic differences in drive for muscularity in B ritish men and the negotiation of masculinity hierarchies
Author(s) -
Swami Viren
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
british journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.536
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8295
pISSN - 0007-1269
DOI - 10.1111/bjop.12162
Subject(s) - ethnic group , psychology , masculinity , contest , social psychology , negotiation , developmental psychology , gender studies , sociology , social science , anthropology , political science , psychoanalysis , law
Although relatively little is known about ethnic differences in men's drive for muscularity, recent theoretical developments suggest that ethnic minority men may desire greater muscularity to contest their positions of relative subordinate masculinity. This study tested this hypothesis in a sample of 185 W hite, 180 B lack B ritish, and 182 S outh A sian B ritish men. Participants completed self‐report measures of drive for muscularity, need for power, adherence to traditional cultural values, and ethnic group affiliation. Taking into account between‐group differences in body mass index, results indicated that W hite men had significantly lower drive for muscularity than B lack and S outh A sian men, who were not significantly different from each other. In addition, greater need for power was significantly associated with higher drive for muscularity in ethnic minority, but not W hite, men. Greater adherence to traditional cultural values, but not ethnic group affiliation, was associated with lower drive for muscularity in all ethnic groups. These results suggest that ethnic minority men may desire greater muscularity as a means of negotiating masculinity and attendant ideals of appearance.