Masculinity behind bars

Abstract

Correctional staff commonly face difficulties brought about by inmate misbehaviors, such as aggression, substance abuse, victimization, and varieties of prison misconduct. Only recently have researchers begun to examine deviant masculine norms and their effects on maladaptive prison behaviors. Two constructs representing deviant masculinities have emerged in the literature in association with antisocial behaviors and crime: (1) hypermasculinity, an exaggeration of stereotypical male gender roles; and (2) masculine gender role stress (MGRS), a unique stressor experienced when men feel traditionally valued gender roles are threatened. To date, however, neither hypermasculinity nor MGRS have been studied with respect to their effects on inmate behavior. This dissertation quantitatively examines hypermasculinity and MGRS among male inmates in early stages of incarceration. Multivariate analyses were used to determine the relationships between hypermasculinity, MGRS, and maladaptive prison behaviors. The study used an original panel data collection strategy. Data were gathered from two self-report surveys administered to 168 inmates at two correctional facilities in the Northeastern United States. Each respondent was initially surveyed within 30 days of booking and administered a follow-up survey after six months of incarceration. The findings demonstrate that MGRS has a significant positive influence on inmate hypermasculinity in the early stages of incarceration. These effects were even more acutely evident at the second interval of data collection, six months after the first survey. Importantly, this result indicates that hypermasculine attitudes may be employed increasingly as an adaptive response to masculine threats in prison. Both hypermasculinity and MGRS were associated with increases in aggressive behaviors, and higher MGRS scores predicted a greater likelihood of victimization. Yet, hypermasculinity and MGRS did not explain variation in other maladaptive behaviors, including misconduct, violent misconduct, and alcohol/substance use. Furthermore, MGRS did not moderate any effects of hypermasculinity on inmate behaviors. While the hypermasculinity and MGRS variables did not adequately predict most behavioral outcomes, the results show promise for identifying inmates at risk of engaging in aggressive and violent behaviors. The findings complement prior studies on prison masculinities, warranting further investigation into hypermasculinity and MGRS constructs and their effects on inmate behaviors. Implications for policy, research, and theory are addressed.