"Meninos não choram": gênero e saúde entre meninos de classes populares urbanas

This article discusses the imaginary and the social practices of young people, specially boys, from urban popular classes about sexuality and gender. It presents the difficulties and possibilities of preventive work among them and the implications of the (re)production of hegemonic values concerning masculinity, as for instance heterosexuality and manliness. The questions related to reproductive health and sexuality are an important bias to understand the social construction of masculinities. To investigate the construction of masculinities becomes an important instrument in order to open up the possibility of more gender equity, and also for the prevention of STDs, HIV and AIDS