Psychology

“I can't fit into these boxes, it doesn't work”: Multiracial men's experiences and expressions of masculinity.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Little is known about how masculinity is understood, embodied, and performed by Multiracial men as compared to monoracial men. The findings of the present qualitative study, based on semistructured interviews with 14 Multiracial men residing in the United States, demonstrate a diversity of experiences as Multiracial men navigate intersecting and restrictive gender and racial ideologies, including hegemonic masculinity and racial essentialism. The study documents proximal (e.g., romantic partners, colleagues, and bullies) and distal (e.g., media representation) influences on Multiracial men's self-concepts and provides novel insights into the challenges and strengths possessed by this historically understudied population. Notable challenges faced by the men in this sample include integrating conflicting race-based expectations for how to be a man and being fetishized and exoticized across different domains. Notwithstanding, participants reflected on their strengths of gregariousness, empathy, and having the ability to code-switch. This study subverts essentialist understandings of gender and race and offers potential clinical and research implications and recommendations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved) © 2025 American Psychological Association

Publication Title

Psychology of Men and Masculinity

Publication Date

2025

ISSN

1524-9220

DOI

10.1037/men0000527

Keywords

Biracial, gender socialization, masculinity, Multiracial, racial socialization

Cross Post Location

Student Publications

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