Black American Men’s Lived Experiences of Dress: Examining Dress and Identity Through a Framework of Race, Black Masculinity and Cultural Expression

It examines how Black American men use dress to negotiate their identities, how it contributes to a Black masculinity, and to what extent their dress choices influence other men. Twelve participants were interviewed about their lived experiences, in-person (Dallas, Texas) and virtually (on Zoom).</p><p dir="ltr">An interpretive phenomenological approach revealed that there were similarities between participants’ lived experiences of dress, which informed the following themes: (1) Black feminine masculinity; (2) dress and identity negotiation; (3) the influence of other men; and (4) the impact of status on consumption and dress.

Through the lens of African American Male Theory and the integrative model of Black masculinity, this thesis outlines how these themes are linked to the unique lives of Black American men. Together, these themes explain the various roles that dress plays in their lives. Overall, this study places Black American men’s voices at the centre of their experiences.