Men’s experiences of trauma affect the quality of their relationships with people across the spectrum of gender and social position, including young women. Our work in the Threads Lab shows there might be a potential gap in our understanding of the differences between what young men and women might consider coercion, the way those behaviors are perceived by partners, and the current ways we measure and define coercion in research or practice, particularly among minoritized populations of men. We have found that patterns of reproductive coercion occurring among young pregnant couples can help us learn more about predicting future IPV after they transition to parenthood. This helps us think about ways to build interventions for safety as well as HIV prevention.

Men’s Health

RESEARCH

Men’s trauma experiences can affect young women’s health behaviors.

Select Projects

Sexual Safety and Sexual Security: Explorations of Relationship Dynamics among Black Emerging Adult Heterosexual Men, American Nurses Foundation
In this 2 year study (2013-2014), we conducted interviews with 25 young Black men in Baltimore to examine their experiences of trauma, motivations for fatherhood, and use of coercion and IPV. We found few men used reproductive coercion tactics to control their female partners’ pregnancies. We also found that many young men desired fatherhood and love with their partners and their behaviors might be perceived as coercive. This is important information that can help us design coaching interventions to promote healthy communication and parenting decision-making among young couples.

REAL Study for Young Men: Real Experiences Affect ,  Johns Hopkins University Provost Catalyst Award
In this 3 year study (2018-2021), we examined behaviors among young Black and African American men in romantic relationships with women. We enrolled 100 young men to complete surveys and 3 focus groups. We are beginning to analyze these data and have plans for upcoming publications.

Select Publications

 Alexander, K.A., Arrington-Sanders, R., Grace, K.T., Thorpe, R., Doro, E., Bowleg, L. (2019). ‘Having a child meant I had a real life’: Reproductive coercion and childbearing motivations among young Black men living in Baltimore'. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. doi: 10.1177/0886260519853400 PMID: 31195889

Alexander, K.A., St. Vil, N.M., Braithwaite-Hall, M.A., Sanchez, M, Baumann, A., Callwood, G.B., Campbell, J.C., Campbell, D.W. (2020). ‘Some men just don’t want to get hurt’: Perspectives of U.S. Virgin Islands men toward partner violence and HIV risks. Ethnicity and Health, 25(1). doi: 10.1080/13557858.2017.1395816

Fields, J., King, K.M., Alexander, K.A., Smith, K., Sherman, S.G., Knowlton, A. (2017). Recently released Black men’s perceptions of incarceration’s impact on sexual partnering, Culture, Health, & Sexuality, doi: 10.1080/13691058.2017.1325009.

Collaborations

Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development Youth Opportunity Centers
https://moed.baltimorecity.gov/youth-services/opportunity

Engaging men and boys in efforts to prevent IPV and slow the spread of HIV is imperative to promote health of women and families in our communities. Check out these initiatives that focus on several strategies such as changing masculine norms to promoting economic stability by preparing men to enter the workforce with success:

Futures without Violence

Futures without Violence is critical strategy in the effort to promote gender equity and end gender-based violence. Their website is a virtual hub to advance strategic planning, program development, and implementation to meaningfully engage men to end and prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Prevent IPV

Alaska Men Choose Respect, Ohio Men’s Action Network (OHMAN), and Ten Men. approaches provide an opportunity to establish a personal commitment to IPV prevention and concrete activities to help prevent IPV in their lives and communities. Their approaches focus on media messaging, social norms campaigns, networking/coalition work, peer support, mentorship, and skill building around leveraging community influence to impact change.

Center for Urban Families

Central to CFUF’s mission is the belief that men—the most disconnected and underserved citizens in urban communities—who connect with women, their children, and the workplace are key to the restoration of stability and optimism. Consistent with this mission, our organizational goal is to assist individuals in regaining the personal power needed to benefit their families and communities.