Exploring adolescent masculinity in an HIV context using participant autophotography

Abstract

Problem Statement: Adolescent boys living with chronic medical conditions face a challenging context for the formation of a young masculine identity, conceptualised as an active positioning in relation to hegemonic masculinity. Research Questions: The research question was to identify constructions of masculinity among adolescent boys living with HIV with attention given to how masculine identities were positioned in relation to hegemonic masculinity. Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the study was to explore the intersection of masculine identity construction with an HIV positive identity of relevance to policy and programmes for supporting adolescent boys. Dialogical Self Theory and Connells concept of hegemonic masculinity were used as frameworks for understanding masculine identity construction as positioning. Research Methods: Mixed method participatory methods consisted of semi-structured interviews, focus groups, participant autophotography and biographical drawings. The purposive sample consisted of adolescent boys (N=7) who were members of an HIV clinic support group. Participants produced photographs according to the caption My life as a young man living in South Africa today. These images acted as visual prompts for individual interviews. Findings: The findings were that the boys faced various dilemmas and challenges in positioning a masculine identity against the conflicting imperatives of hegemonic masculinity and living with a chronic medical condition. At some points, the boys identified with dominant expectations or took highly independent agentive positions. Some of the boys managed non-hegemonically identified positions by reframing masculine expectations. Conclusions: Young masculinity was viably conceptualised as an active positioning of personal and social subjectivities using Dialogical Self Theory and Connells hegemonic masculinity. The considerable challenges of chronic illness highlighted the construction of masculine identity through identifications and alignments. The participants narratives revealed the complexities of instantiating and sustaining a masculine identity in a context of constraint and gendered expectations.