Sexual abstinence has become the primary response to prevention against sexually transmitted infection (STI) and unplanned pregnancies amongst young people. However, not much is known about the perceptions of young men on sexual abstinence. The central aim in this study was to explore the perceptions of sexual abstinence among young black males. The research aims to examine men’s understandings of their own sexuality and the way these might influence their decision on sexual abstinence. A total of 10 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted individually with young men aged between 18 and 25 years, studying at The University of the Witwatersrand. All data collected were then qualitatively analysed through the use of thematic content analysis (TCA). Findings show that in constructing their masculinities participants predominantly endorsed discourses of male hegemony. At some instances the young men retracted to subjective alternative masculinities, although there was a stronger need to fit in with their peers, to protect themselves from being ridiculed or rejected. As such conforming to the hegemonic masculinity was expected. The young men constructed women as sexual objects and as a means towards affirming their masculinity. A key conclusion drawn was that some traditional notions of manhood still held sway, and these tied in strongly with how these participants constructed their masculinity and this influenced most of them to not sexually abstain.

Stress is a common phenomenon experienced by nursing students; however, there is a gap regarding the perception of stress by male nursing students. It is important for nurse educators to be aware of the stressors that are unique to male students to provide appropriate resources and ensure their success in nursing school. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the lived experiences male nursing students’ stress. Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress was the theoretical framework for this study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 8 participants, who were male students enrolled in associate degree nursing programs, to answer the research question exploring the lived experiences and perceptions of stress of male nursing students related to nursing school. The data were manually coded and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis. Five common themes emerged: stress, time commitment, loss, self-care, and positive experiences. Recommendations for future research include exploring the perception of stress, and perceived role strain related to stereotypes of male nurses with students in higher levels of education. The findings promote positive social change, as they can be used to encourage the assistance of students completing their programs, which can improve the health of their patients, the community, and the nursing profession by increasing the representation of males entering the discipline of nursing and providing high quality care.

School administrators are charged with guiding, overseeing, and ensuring the successful education of all students. They use myriad techniques to this end, though not all students share in the success. For example, Black male students are more likely to underperform than are other groups of students, which places their academic and economic survival at risk (Kirsch, Braun, Yamamoto, and Sum, 2007). The focus of this study was on Black male student performance in Algebra 1. Algebra 1 plays a pivotal role in academic success and is a leading indicator of a students likelihood of success in advanced mathematics courses (Wang and Goldschmidt, 2003). Failure to learn and understand the content in Algebra 1 results in limitations on further mathematical opportunities in the short-term, which, in turn, reduces prospects for continued education beyond secondary school. The purpose of this study was to examine and identify specific school leadership practices that influence and improve the Algebra 1 performance of Black male students. Interviews with principals, lead math teachers, and school counselors provided qualitative data related to school-level leadership practices. Additionally, I conducted document reviews of school newsletters, parent letters, robocall messages, lesson plans, and websites. Analyses of the interviews and documents revealed six themes: (a) effective instructional leadership, (b) culture of collaboration, (c) facilitation and scheduling, (d) parental involvement, (e) intervention and remediation, and (f) resources. This study has implications and applications for the practices of school leaders, mathematics teaching and learning, and programs to support Black male students. / Ed. D.

This study examined the differences in engagement among entering African American male students at two community colleges in the State of Texas. Three research questions provided the foundation for this study: (1) Is there a significant difference in the engagement levels among first-year male community college students by age group, (2) From the African American male students’ perspective, what are the specific educational programs and institutional practices that supported their retention and persistence during the first semester of enrollment in a two-year institution; and (3) In the case of the African American male students, what organizational and institutional factors influenced their decision to enroll for a second semester at a two-year institution? The series of research questions developed for this study were tested using survey research, casestudy analysis, and qualitative research. The descriptive analyses were conducted using a sample of the data collected from the 22 institutions selected to participate in the Survey of Entering Students Engagement (SENSE) pilot survey. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to compile the frequency statistics and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for the 781 African American male study respondents. The effect size (Eta-Squared) was also calculated to identify relative magnitude of the difference between means that were found in the ANOVA results. The researcher also conducted focus groups and in-depth interviews with first-year African American male students who enrolled in a community college. The results of this study indicated there were statistically significant differences among first-year African American male community college students by age group. The results also showed that African American male students who were involved in campus-based initiatives at their community college had higher levels of satisfaction during their first academic term. Finally, several of the focus group and individual interview participants indicated their participation in gender-specific programs influenced their decision to enroll for a second semester at a two-year institution. / text

Latino students often embark on their post-secondary educational journey at a community college due to cost, proximity to family, and open access policies. The current literature on Latina/o community college students has primarily focused on a deficit view of the educational aspirations and educational completion of this population. The current rapid and expected growth of the Latina/o population requires a call to action to identify the capital and supports employed by these students to navigate their journey to eventual transfer to the University in the Southwest region of the United States. Guided by Yosso's (2005) Community Cultural Wealth framework, my dissertation examined the educational experiences of five Latino male students at a Southwest Community College. Latina/o students highlighted the challenges that they encountered, resources available to overcome these challenges, and their resiliency. The findings are indicative of the presence and utilization of aspirational, navigational and resilience capital driven by self-determination.

This study explores the ways in which masculinity and sexuality is constructed among 18–24 year old young male university students and how these constructions intersect with their sexual practices. A plethora of literature about masculinity and sexuality reveals a normative masculinity where being a man is associated with risky practices. Through literature review it is also emphasised that although masculinity is rather stable, it is contested and subject to struggle and change. Hence there is a call for flexible descriptions of what it means to be a man. The study is situated in a social constructionist framework. Semi-structured interviews were audio-taped and transcribed. Themes are determined and analysed using discourse analysis. Participants’ reflections bring to the fore how idealised construction of masculinity is valued and the extent to which men conform in order to earn the status of manhood. Some discourses that emerged from participants contribute to the idealised construction of masculinity. The university context seems to provide a better space for the attainment of this idealised masculinity as opposed to the home (with parents/members of the family), which is perceived to be placing a strain or restriction on masculinity. The study further found that men are reluctant to use condoms, and label women who initiate condom use. This reluctance and labelling reinforce their urge to present themselves as invulnerable, virile, brave, initiators and thrill seeking. The study concludes that it is impossible to tackle the scourge of HIV/AIDS without looking into the construction of masculinity and sexuality among males. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

African American male students (AAMSs) can benefit from literacy instruction that is student-based and geared towards using higher-level thinking skills. The conceptual framework was guided by Dewey's constructivism theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore whether high school English language arts (ELA) teachers in an urban-suburban Midwest region of the United States have sufficient knowledge and skills to incorporate higher order thinking skills (HOT) instruction for AAMSs. Five ELA teachers from a low-performing, urban-suburban high school in the Midwest region of the United States participated in semistructured interviews; observations were conducted in the classroom, and lesson plans were reviewed. Patterns, categories, and themes emerged through using the coding process by breaking down the data into units and then grouped according to their characteristics. According to the findings, participants from this study suggested that problem- solving was the main higher level thinking skill for AAMSs. These local ELA teachers also used the Socratic questioning method as their primary instructional strategy but limited constructivist activities for AAMSs to engage during the instructional process. The findings from the data collection support the development of a professional training program. The professional development program could help teachers engage AAMSs in increasing their academic endeavors. ELA teachers can participate in professional learning communities by communicating concerns about AAMSs, using HOT skills to increase AAMSs literacy performance, become change agents, and promote a positive social change by using constructivist practices into school curriculum and instructions for AAMSs, eventually closing the achievement gap.

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This research explored trends in male body image amongst South African men aged 18 to 25 years. A questionnaire consisting of a demographic section, the Body Image Test, the Behaviours Checklist and the Eating Disorders Inventory was administered to 50 male students from the University of the Witwatersrand. Trends in body dissatisfaction, body enhancing behaviour and eating disorder symptoms were examined. Correlation analyses were used to infer relationships between these three variables. The results showed that the sample group on average view themselves as overly muscular and have a body image ideal that is less muscular than their perceived body image. This trend is contrary to trends reported in international studies and is thought to represent the cultural effects of using a South African population that is diverse in its composition as compared to an American or European samples that are more homogenous in nature. The results also showed that there were differences in body image trends between different racial groupings, although the results did indicate that across the racial groupings there was a similar societal body image ideal that represents a global trend towards a lean, muscular male body image. The results showed that the sample did not engage in body enhancing behaviours that are considered excessive or indicative of body image dissatisfaction. This was also reflected by the results on the Eating Disorders Inventory that showed considerably lower scores on the symptom scales when compared to a clinical eating disordered population and a non-clinical female comparison group. The results also showed that the sample had lower scores on the behavioural symptom scales yet higher scores on the attitudinal symptom scales. This indicates that the sample did not display any significant eating disorder behaviours yet did display personality traits that are correlated to eating disordered behaviour. There was no correlation between body dissatisfaction and body enhancing behaviour. There was a positive correlation between body dissatisfaction and the symptom scale of interpersonal distrust. A positive correlation also occurred between body enhancing behaviour and the symptom scales for perfection and drive for thinness. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed.

The opinions of male students at Logan Junior High School and their parents were analyzed to determine attitudes toward physical education and the existing physical education program at the school. The data was obtained by the use of a questionnaire given to 458 boys and their parents. Students of all three grades and the parents of all three classes indicated a positive attitude toward physical education and also toward the existing physical education program at Logan Junior High School. Ninth-graders showed the most favorable attitude of the student groups toward physical education. Parents of eighth-graders were the strongest supporters from the parent groups. The most favorable attitude toward the existing program from the students was accumulated by the ninth-grade boys, and the parents of seventh graders were the strongest supporters among the three parent groups. In addition, each of the six groups was overwhelmingly in favor of the intramural program. Basketball, flag football, and European handball were the three most liked activities. Calisthenics, relays, and Color Achievement were the least liked activities.