Codes of masculinity have a tremendous effect on the sexual behavior of African-American boys, who have three main ways to prove their manhood: 1) be an economic provider, 2) toughness, and 3) sexual prowess. Unfortunately, many of these boys have absent fathers, and no male role model to guide them on a path to manhood. Instead they rely upon their peers. Fights and threats of violence are common in order to prove one's toughness and protect economic turf. When it comes to sex, boys are encouraged by peers to have sex early. As one boy put it, "Once you're pretty much like 13,” you're supposed to have had sex already. Boys who have not done so are told to work on their "game” or get money to attract young females. Peer pressure further encourages boys to have sex with multiple partners. Monogamous relationships are discouraged because it takes a potential sex partner away from a boy's friends. These pressures discourage level-headed, responsible sexual activity in order to please others and establish manhood.

 

Sex education that accounts for the cultural belief of machismo, or "male pride,” and other cultural beliefs have shown a 31% lower chance of acquiring an STD, a 56% increase in condom use, and a 25% lower chance of having multiple sex partners,. The most effective education includes addressing barriers to condom use or sexual abstinence, attempting to change peer attitudes, and practicing condom skills. Effective educators realize that machismo—making men prove masculinity through power and dominance—leads to risky sex. Educators aware of cultural differences and language barriers had more success than those who did not focus on Latino culture.

 

Stereotypical "manly” behavior is linked to girlfriend abuse, promiscuity, and unsafe sex, and the stereotypes make it hard for boys to be who they want to be. Boys report less confidence and more relationship anxiety than do girls because boys don’t know how to act. Contrary to gender stereotypes boys and girls really don’t report much difference in what they value in relationships, especially being loved, or in how much power they perceive they have in a relationship. One boy reported, "I'm like a little girl in a relationship.” He felt this way because he learned that "men” do not express feelings, don’t feel love, and are supposed to simply want sex. Many boys discussed the "player” stereotype as negative, but most still felt pressure to live up to the stereotype and feared telling friends their deep feelings for their girlfriends. Most boys only pretend to be stereotypical men, but this pretending encourages some boys to act violently or irresponsibly. Without anyone telling them it is okay to just be themselves, boys are conflicted between wanting to be good and wanting to be "men.”