Measurement Validation of the Jamaican Macho Scale Among African American Males

Abstract

Measures of masculinities have expanded in recent decades to reflect greater diversity. A comparative reading of the literature suggests that African American men may endorse the same macho ideology shared by Afro-Jamaican men, which is captured by the Jamaican Macho Scale. The current article examines whether the Macho Scale is relevant to explaining masculinity among African American males using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis techniques. A sample of 203 African American male college students from a large university in the Eastern United States participated in a self-administered survey, which included the Macho Scale items. Results supported a two-factor model of macho ideology, specifically sexual dominance and virility, and procreative need, in the American context. Future research should examine understudied masculinity ideology constructs in the American setting and attempt to map the full content domain of African American masculinity ideologies.