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Non-violent Males in Violent Settings

An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Prosocial Low-income Adolescent Males in Two Chicago (USA) Neighborhoods

Chapin Hall Center for Children, Chicago barker-gary{at}chmail.spc.uchicago.edu

This study analyzes the factors associated with being non-violent and constructing a non-violent, prosocial masculine identity among adolescent males in two low-income Chicago (USA) neighborhoods where boys are generally socialized to be violent. Subjects were 25 African-American and Hispanic males ages 15-20; six of the males were adolescent fathers. Results confirmed that the males' life trajectories were characterized by family stresses, exposure to violence and gang involvement. Several factors were associated with being non-violent, including the ability to draw lessons from past traumatic experiences, having a recognized skill or meaningful connection to a mainstream institution, belonging to an alternative peer group that promoted non-violence and finding a purpose of life in being a father. Implications for youth-serving agencies are offered, including the suggestion of offering activities in which young men reflect about their life histories.

Key Words: adoloescent males • gang involvement • teen fathers • violence

Childhood, Vol. 5, No. 4, 437-461 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/0907568298005004006


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