Interpreting the "Old Spice Guy": Diverse Masculinities Rolled Into One

When I first saw the Old Spice commercial with the "Old Spice Guy," I immediately considered it good blogging material. What markers of masculinity are portrayed throughout the commercial? Though the commercial cannot be embedded here, it can be seen over on YouTube.

Let's see: the commercial parodies a rugged, chivalrous masculinity, where the character (actor, Isaiah Mustafa) embodies some of the typically desired masculine traits for those women who emphasize femininity -- sensitivity towards his romantic partner (cake baking), woodworking skills, striated musculature, a proclivity for the outdoors, deep voice, clean, and generally speaking, confident.

I didn't realize until yesterday how wildly popular this commercial has become. The Old Spice producers and actor have even made a bunch of attendant YouTube videos for fans (celebrities and non-celebrities), including one for NPR:



And I thought the one responding to Alyssa Milano was pretty funny, referencing her previous "home" on the 1980's sitcom, "Who's the Boss."



The commercial's idiosyncratic, humorous nature definitely helps, but I'd bet this commercial's popularity is traced more to society's current conception of hegemonic masculinity, combining diverse power-based traits that resonate with viewers from a wide array of demographics. Let's break down the traits a little more.

The outdoorsy guy with carpentry, bike riding, and log-rolling skills taps into the rural, rugged demographic. Yet, he's also metrosexual -- well groomed, clean, boasts of smelling good (it is an Old Spice commercial). Physically, he's athletic (former pro football player in real life at some level) and muscular. Then ethnically, he taps into the African American viewing demographic. Again, the way actor exudes confidence ties in neatly with a hegemonic masculine ideal. He's a provider ("dream kitchen he built you with his own hands"). And finally, heterosexuality is blatantly expressed. The commercial begins with the line, "Hello ladies. How are you? Fantastic. Does your man look like me? No. Can he smell like me? Yes..." [emphasis added].

That opening line is key. The average, everyday male cannot be entirely like the "Old Spice Guy." Heck, the "Old Spice Guy" says so himself. However, the "average Joe" can take baby steps to work towards that masculine ideal by buying Old Spice bodywash (body wash containers, by the way, are bad for the environment) and trying to conform to some of the other hegemonic masculine traits.

A gender-based hierarchy is clearly defined ["Old Spice Guy" at the top in this example, male viewers below in pursuit, and domesticated women below (perhaps this last point can be teased out more)]. Just as commercials that emphasize femininity rely on women's gender-based insecurities, so does this commercial for males. It just does so in a way that reaches numerous demographics, while laced (i.e., masked) with humor.

Updated 7/21/10 with an even more overt example:



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A More Serious Example of Deviance: Abortion in Mexico

Al Jazeera has a useful YouTube video up that nicely illustrates the concept of deviance: "Criminalising abortions in Mexico." The video illustrates what happens to women when the church is able to leverage its power over the state. As the video shows, outside of Mexico City, where there are more liberal abortion laws, women cannot safely get an abortion even if the pregnancy comes as a result of sexual assault. In cases where a woman wants an abortion and claims her pregnancy is due to rape, the city's bureaucracy will not allow her to get through the paperwork (in fact, the necessary paperwork doesn't even exist). Moreover, medical doctors frequently will not perform abortions since their religious beliefs interfere with the practice.

So what's the result? Abortion is heavily criminalised, to the extent that women who have had an abortion have been incarcerated. This inconsistent response to a particular behavior cuts across different countries, or as this example illustrates, within a country. A social response to the behavior depends on the society's social values and norms, and in this case, the church's ability to enforce those values and norms through formal (i.e., state) institutions (e.g., hospitals/medical clinics, criminal justice system, government).

The other point is the gender piece. It takes two to tango, and as this piece states, the tango is not always consensual. Presumably perpetrators of sexual assault, if caught and deemed guilty, will be punished appropriately (okay, we know that shouldn't be assumed, but let's just do so for now). On the other hand, what if it was consensual? What happens to the male party if a woman goes through an abortion and is punished? What if part of the reason she wants an abortion is because he refuses to support her and her child? What if they're in agreement that it's just not the right time to have a child, why is she the only party punished?

Again, because society deems her deviant, not him. Check out the 3-minute video:




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More using mobile phones to teach sociology - Deviance

This past spring semester I was trying to use my smart phone to teach rational choice theory, which suggests potential criminals are rational -- they, like any other rational person -- will weigh the pros and cons of a potential situation, and then carry out the crime if the pros sufficiently outweigh the cons.

So I blantaly left my T-Mobile Dash on a student's desk in the front row and said, "Now if rational choice theory holds true, 'Joe-Shmo' would weigh the pros and cons of stealing my phone, such as the chances of getting caught, how much my phone is worth, if he has a phone, blah blah blah." That whole "worth" thing played into my example. The student pulled out his iPhone, chuckled and asked, "Why would I steal a T-mobile Dash when I have an iPhone?" The smaller value of my phone didn't make the benefits of committing the theft very high for this student.

A few weeks later the battery in my smart phone was incessantly dying so I had to buy the newer version of the T-mobile Dash. During the time I had to wait for my new phone to arrive, I started using my old mobile phones (whose batteries still kicked ass) largely to see how people would react to them (see pictures above and below). Not surprisingly, I was ridiculed by friends, not maliciously, but ridiculed nonetheless (these are people, by the way, in their mid-20s to late-30s).



In short, I was made deviant because I was openly using an "old school" phone without a keyboard, internet access, in one case, no camera, etc. Best Buy currently has a few commercials out better illustrating this point -- that if you don't have some kind of fancy smart phone, you are rendered deviant in one way or another. Notably, one of my best friends made fun of my old school phone by saying how embarrassing it would be to bust out that phone in the presence of a woman. On to the commercial:



So, as a male, if you don't have the financial capital to possess a kick ass phone, you are a deviant male, with a low-end job (sharing a cubicle), without technical prowess (can't stay on top of your e-mail or access the net), and bottom line, you aren't an attractive mate. I still remember the college days when nobody had cell phones.

Today, popular culture infiltrates our identities such that we are encouraged to spend, spend, spend on technologies that make us more desirable in various ways. And if you don't purchase the latest high tech gadgets, you are defined as deviant by society (even if the metals in those high-tech gadgets contribute to horrific mineral wars in central Africa).

Eventually, I got my upgraded smart phone that I now wear proudly on my hip.


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Youth Substance Use and Indigenous Peoples

More from the 2009 YRBSS survey, taken among 9th-12th graders in the United States (see also previous post). The youth violence rates among "American Indians and Alaskan Natives" (AI/AN) and "Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders" (NHOPI) were so high compared to the other constructed "race" groups that I decided to check out how they compared for some of the more serious substance use items (there are also more minor forms of substance use, such as "ever used alcohol" and "ever used marijuana," for which the epidemiological literature generally shows Caucasian youth tend to have higher rates). "Top two" groups bolded again (males and females combined).


1. Tried Marijuana For The First Time Before Age 13 Years

• Total (7.5%; N=16,134); females (5.0%; N=8,183); males (9.7%; N=7,888)
• AI/AN total (18.1%; N=137); females (N/A; N=55); males (N/A; N=80)
• Asian total (2.5%; N=741); females (1.1%; N=399); males (3.9%; N=342)
• Black total (10.2%; N=2,741); females (4.1%; N=1,1413); males (16.1%; N=1,322)
• Hispanic (10.3%; N=4,676); females (7.8%; N=2,412); males (12.9%; N=2,251)
• NHOPI (15.0%; N=173); females (N/A; N=83); males (N/A; N=89)
• White (5.7%; N=6,828); females (4.0%; N=3,403); males (7.1%; N=3,418)
• Multiple race (9.1%; N=547); females (9.2%; N=307); males (8.9%; N=240)

2. Drank Alcohol For The First Time Before Age 13 Years (more than just a few sips)

• Total (21.1%; N=16,207); females (18.1%; N=8,194); males (23.7%; N=7,949)
• AI/AN total (36.0%; N=136); females (N/A; N=54); males (N/A; N=80)
• Asian total (14.8%; N=734); females (12.4%; N=392); males (17.2%; N=342)
• Black total (24.9%; N=2,773); females (21.9%; N=1,429); males (27.6%; N=1,338)
• Hispanic (27.1%; N=4,692); females (23.2%; N=2,408); males (31.0%; N=2,271)
• NHOPI (23.9%; N=176); females (N/A; N=83); males (N/A; N=92)
• White (18.1%; N=6,854); females (15.5%; N=3,411); males (20.3%; N=3,436)
• Multiple race (22.7%; N=552); females (20.0%; N=308); males (26.0%; N=244)

3. Ever Used Any Form Of Cocaine One Or More Times (for example, powder, crack, or freebase, during their life)

• Total (6.4%; N=16,204); females (5.3%; N=8,214); males (7.3%; N=7,927)
• AI/AN total (10.9%; N=135); females (N/A; N=53); males (N/A; N=80)
• Asian total (3.9%; N=744); females (2.7%; N=402); males (5.2%; N=342)
• Black total (2.9%; N=2,769); females (1.5%; N=1,431); males (4.3%; N=1,332)
• Hispanic (9.4%; N=4,692); females (8.7%; N=2,415); males (10.1%; N=2,265)
• NHOPI (8.5%; N=174); females (N/A; N=82); males (N/A; N=91)
• White (6.3%; N=6,846); females (5.4%; N=3,410); males (7.1%; N=3,429)
• Multiple race (3.8%; N=492); females (2.3%; N=274); males (5.5%; N=218)

4. Ever Used Heroin One Or More Times (also called "smack", "junk", or "China white", during their life)

• Total (2.5%; N=15,731); females (1.7%; N=7,923); males (3.2%; N=7,750)
• AI/AN total (3.1%; N=134); females (N/A; N=53); males (N/A; N=79)
• Asian total (2.4%; N=662); females (1.3%; N=348); males (3.5%; N=314)
• Black total (2.2%; N=2,757); females (0.7%; N=1,418); males (3.6%; N=1,333)
• Hispanic (3.3%; N=4,450); females (2.9%; N=2,270); males (3.6%; N=2,171)
• NHOPI (6.1%; N=144); females (N/A; N=67); males (N/A; N=76)
• White (2.2%; N=6,798); females (1.6%; N=3,381); males (2.7%; N=3,411)
• Multiple race (3.3%; N=501); females (1.9%; N=278); males (4.9%; N=223)

5. Ever Used Methamphetamines One Or More Times (also called "speed", "crystal", "crank", or "ice", during their life)

• Total (4.1%; N=16,289); females (3.3%; N=8,244); males (4.7%; N=7,982)
• AI/AN total (11.0%; N=137); females (N/A; N=54); males (N/A; N=81)
• Asian total (3.1%; N=745); females (3.0%; N=401); males (3.2%; N=344)
• Black total (2.7%; N=2,790); females (1.0%; N=1,437); males (4.5%; N=1,347)
• Hispanic (5.7%; N=4,728); females (5.2%; N=2,430); males (6.1%; N=2,286)
• NHOPI (7.7%; N=175); females (N/A; N=83); males (N/A; N=91)
• White (3.7%; N=6,868); females (3.2%; N=3,419); males (4.2%; N=3,442)
• Multiple race (4.6%; N=550); females (4.0%; N=307); males (5.3%; N=243)

6. Ever Used Ecstasy One Or More Times (also called "MDMA", during their life)

• Total (6.7%; N=15,887); females (5.5%; N=8,016); males (7.6%; N=7,811)
• AI/AN total (13.3%; N=134); females (N/A; N=53); males (N/A; N=79)
• Asian total (4.3%; N=713); females (3.2%; N=383); males (5.3%; N=330)
• Black total (5.1%; N=2,758); females (3.8%; N=1,420); males (6.5%; N=1,332)
• Hispanic (8.2%; N=4,485); females (7.5%; N=2,287); males (8.9%; N=2,187)
• NHOPI (12.0%; N=161); females (N/A; N=78); males (N/A; N=82)
• White (6.4%; N=6,814); females (5.3%; N=3,388); males (7.4%; N=3,420)
• Multiple race (8.0%; N=536); females (6.6%; N=298); males (9.8%; N=238)

7. Ever Took Steroid Pills Or Shots Without A Doctor's Prescription One Or More Times (during their life)

• Total (3.3%; N=16,320); females (2.2%; N=8,256); males (4.3%; N=8,001)
• AI/AN total (7.6%; N=139); females (N/A; N=55); males (N/A; N=82)
• Asian total (3.1%; N=747); females (2.4%; N=403); males (3.8%; N=344)
• Black total (2.8%; N=2,803); females (0.9%; N=1,441); males (4.6%; N=1,356)
• Hispanic (3.9%; N=4,734); females (3.2%; N=2,433); males (4.6%; N=2,289)
• NHOPI (5.3%; N=175); females (N/A; N=83); males (N/A; N=91)
• White (3.1%; N=6,873); females (2.1%; N=3,419); males (3.9%; N=3,447)
• Multiple race (3.4%; N=552); females (1.9%; N=309); males (5.2%; N=243)

8. Offered, Sold, Or Given An Illegal Drug By Someone On School Property (during the 12 months before the survey)

• Total (22.7%; N=16,261); females (19.3%; N=8,238); males (25.9%; N=7,962)
• AI/AN total (34.0%; N=139); females (N/A; N=55); males (N/A; N=82)
• Asian total (18.3%; N=748); females (15.1%; N=402); males (21.5%; N=346)
• Black total (22.2%; N=2,782); females (18.8%; N=1,435); males (25.7%; N=1,341)
• Hispanic (31.2%; N=4,721); females (27.1%; N=2,429); males (35.1%; N=2,280)
• NHOPI (27.6%; N=174); females (N/A; N=83); males (N/A; N=90)
• White (19.8%; N=6,855); females (16.5%; N=3,412); males (22.7%; N=3,436)
• Multiple race (26.9%; N=550); females (23.0%; N=308); males (31.6%; N=242)

Although I didn't show the results for every survey item listed under the substance use construct, it's still worth noting that AI/AN's had the highest prevalence rates for 7/8 survey items listed above. NHOPI's were in the "top two" for 5/7 survey items. Again, the small sample sizes for the two indigenous groups (counting "NHOPI" here since Hawaiians are included) are unfortunate. However, the high prevalence rates for these two indigenous "umbrella" ethnic groups cannot be ignored. More research and resources are, no doubt, needed in these communities.


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Youth Violence and Indigenous Peoples

The Centers for Disease Control has their Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) that provides rates of different types of risk for 9th-12th graders across the United States. The 2009 data are out, and there's some extremely interesting findings.

To begin with, those going to the site can break down the data by grade, state, "race," and sex, and even test for statistical significance when making comparative requests. It's quite impressive, so that's what I did.

First, with regard to "race," there are the typical concerns. The sample size is just over 16,000, so its representativeness is suspect, especially when considering certain groups. The "Asian" group for instance, has just under 750 subjects, and the rates of risk tend to be low when compared to other groups. Of course, "Asians" are comprised of Japanese, Chinese, Laotians, Filipinos, Cambodians, etc. Southeast Asians typically have much higher risk rates than East Asians, so it's a problematic and small "umbrella" category, but one that would become even smaller if broken down by all the ethnic groups that comprise the "Asian" rubric. Same concern for "Hispanics" -- how do specific Latino groups differ?

Okay, now that that's out of the way, let's look at the rates of different types of violence, compared by "race" and sex. I've bolded the two groups (males and females combined) with the highest prevalence rates for each type of violence, also providing percentages ("yes" respondents) and sample sizes for each group.

SCHOOL VIOLENCE

1. Carried a weapon on school property on at least 1 day (for example, a gun, knife, or club during the 30 days before survey)

• Total 5.6% (N=16,256) females 2.9% (N=8,239) males 8.0% (N=7,958)
• American Indian or Alaskan Native (AI/AN) total 4.2% (N=138) females N/A (N=55) males N/A (N=81)
• Asian total 3.6% (N=746) females 0.9% (N=402) males 6.3% (N=344)
• Black total 5.3% (N=2,795) females 4.0% (N=1,437) males 6.6% (N=1,351)
• Hispanic total 5.8% (N=4,712) females 3.7% (N=2,424) males 7.9% (N=2,277)
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) total 9.8% (N=177) females N/A (N=85) males N/A (N=91)
• White total 5.6% (N=6,848) females 2.4% (N=3,415) males 8.3% (N=3,426)
• Multiple race total 5.8% (N=552) females 4.7% (N=309) males 7.3% (N=243)

2. Did not go to school because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to or from school on at least 1 day (during the 30 days before survey)

• Total 5.0% (N=16,371) females 5.3% (N=8,268) males 4.6% (N=8,040)
• AI/AN total 8.7% (N=139) females N/A (N=55) males N/A (N=82)
• Asian total 2.9% (N=749) females 3.4% (N=403) males 2.3% (N=346)
• Black total 6.3% (N=2,817) females 6.6% (N=1,445) males 5.9% (N=1,365)
• Hispanic total 8.1% (N=4,750) females 8.3% (N=2,432) males 7.9% (N=2,305)
• NHOPI total 10.6% (N=179) females N/A (N=85) males N/A (N=94)
• White total 3.5% (N=6,886) females 3.8% (N=3,424) males 3.3% (N=3,455)
• Multiple race total 5.5% (N=558) females 5.4% (N=311) males 5.6% (N=247)

3. Threatened or injured with a weapon on school property one or more times (for example, a gun, knife, or club during the 12 months before survey)

• Total 7.7% (N=16,367) females 5.5% (N=8,264) males 9.6% (N=8,041)
• AI/AN total 16.5% (N=139) females N/A (N=55) males N/A (N=82)
• Asian total 5.5% (N=750) females 1.6% (N=403) males 9.4% (N=347)
• Black total 9.4% (N=2,828) females 7.4% (N=1,448) males 11.2% (N=1,373)
• Hispanic total 9.1% (N=4,742) females 6.3% (N=2,429) males 12.0% (N=2,301)
• NHOPI total 12.5% (N=179) females N/A (N=84) males N/A (N=94)
• White total 6.4% (N=6,883) females 4.9% (N=3,423) males 7.8% (N=3,453)
• Multiple race total 9.2% (N=557) females 5.2% (N=311) males 14.0% (N=246)

4. In a physical fight on school property one or more times (during 12 months before survey)

• Total 11.1% (N=16,089) females 6.7% (N=8,150) males 15.1% (N=7,879)
• AI/AN total 20.7% (N=135) females N/A (N=53) males N/A (N=80)
• Asian total 7.7% (N=732) females 4.1% (N=397) males 11.4% (N=335)
• Black total 17.4% (N=2,769) females 12.5% (N=1,430) males 22.2% (N=1,332)
• Hispanic total 13.5% (N=4,676) females 9.3% (N=2,400) males 17.7% (N=2,263)
• NHOPI total 14.8% (N=175) females N/A (N=83) males N/A (N=91)
• White total 8.6% (N=6,771) females 4.3% (N=3,371) males 12.4% (N=3,394)
• Multiple race total 12.4% (N=541) females 7.5% (N=302) males 18.3% (N=239)

5. Bullied on school property (during 12 months before survey)

• Total 19.9% (N=15,633) females 21.2% (N=7,838) males 18.7% (N=7,734)
• AI/AN total 33.8% (N=133) females N/A (N=52) males N/A (N=79)
• Asian total 17.5% (N=650) females 13.9% (N=344) males 21.0% (N=306)
• Black total 13.7% (N=2,728) females 15.5% (N=1,399) males 11.9% (N=1,322)
• Hispanic total 18.5% (N=4,440) females 18.9% (N=2,254) males 18.0% (N=2,175)
• NHOPI total 20.4% (N=146) females N/A (N=68) males N/A (N=77
• White total 21.6% (N=6,756) females 23.5% (N=3,341) males 19.9% (N=3,409)
• Multiple race total 23.9% (N=497) females 22.8% (N=273) males 25.1% (N=224)

COMMUNITY VIOLENCE

6. Carried a weapon on at least 1 day (for example, a gun, knife, or a club during the 30 days before survey)

• Total 17.5% (N=16,110) females 7.1% (N=8,203) males 27.1% (N=7,848)
• AI/AN total 20.7% (N=137) females N/A (N=55) males N/A (N=80)
• Asian total 8.4% (N=745) females 3.8% (N=401) males 13.0% (N=344)
• Black total 14.4% (N=2,746) females 7.8% (N=1,427) males 21.0% (N=1,312)
• Hispanic total 17.2% (N=4,667) females 7.9% (N=2,412) males 26.5% (N=2,244)
• NHOPI total 20.3% (N=175) females N/A (N=84) males N/A (N=90)
• White total 18.6% (N=6,807) females 6.5% (N=3,405) males 29.3% (N=3,395)
• Multiple race total 17.9% (N=550) females 10.9% (N=308) males 26.2% (N=242)

7. Carried a gun on at least 1 day (during the 30 days before survey)

• Total 5.9% (N=15,664) females 1.7% (N=7,916) males 9.8% (N=7,690)
• AI/AN total 7.6% (N=135) females N/A (N=54) males N/A (N=79)
• Asian total 3.4% (N=662) females 0.8% (N=347) males 5.7% (N=315)
• Black total 7.6% (N=2,736) females 1.8% (N=1,417) males 13.2% (N=1,312)
• Hispanic total 5.1% (N=4,430) females 1.9% (N=2,266) males 8.2% (N=2,154)
• NHOPI total 10.4% (N=145) females N/A (N=69) males N/A (N=75)
• White total 5.8% (N=6,778) females 1.5% (N=3,377) males 9.5% (N=3,395)
• Multiple race total 7.2% (N=502) females 3.3% (N=279) males 11.7% (N=223)

8. In a physical fight 1 or more times (during the 12 months before survey)

• Total 31.5% (N=16,130) females 22.9% (N=8,183) males 39.3% (N=7,890)
• AI/AN total 42.4% (N=135) females N/A (N=53) males N/A (N=80)
• Asian total 18.9% (N=737) females 13.2% (N=399) males 24.9% (N=338)
• Black total 41.1% (N=2,759) females 33.9% (N=1,426) males 48.3% (N=1,326)
• Hispanic total 36.2% (N=4,672) females 28.5% (N=2,404) males 43.8% (N=2,255)
• NHOPI total 32.6% (N=174) females N/A (N=83) males N/A (N=90)
• White total 27.8% (N=6,825) females 18.2% (N=3,402) males 36.0% (N=3,417)
• Multiple race total 34.2% (N=549) females 26.7% (N=306) males 42.9% (N=243)

9. Injured in a physical fight one or more times (injuries had to be treated by a doctor or nurse, during 12 months before survey)

• Total 3.8% (N=15,749) females 2.2% (N=7,938) males 5.1% (N=7,752)
• AI/AN total 7.9% (N=134) females N/A (N=53) males N/A (N=79)
• Asian total 2.9% (N=702) females 1.7% (N=378) males 4.1% (N=324)
• Black total 5.7% (N=2,748) females 4.4% (N=1,414) males 7.0% (N=1,327)
• Hispanic total 4.7% (N=4,462) females 3.3% (N=2,270) males 6.0% (N=2,181)
• NHOPI total 7.3% (N=164) females N/A (N=79) males N/A (N=84)
• White total 2.9% (N=6,732) females 1.3% (N=3,343) males 4.2% (N=3,383)
• Multiple race total 3.9% (N=528) females 1.9% (N=294) males 6.2% (N=234)

10. Hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend (during the 12 months before the survey)

• Total 9.8% (N=16,217) females 9.3% (N=8,196) males 10.3% (N=7,957)
• AI/AN total 13.4% (N=139) females N/A (N=55) males N/A (N=82)
• Asian total 5.5% (N=740) females 5.3% (N=399) males 5.8% (N=341)
• Black total 14.3% (N=2,803) females 14.8% (N=1,443) males 13.8% (N=1,353)
• Hispanic total 11.5% (N=4,713) females 11.4% (N=2,414) males 11.7% (N=2,286)
• NHOPI total 13.1% (N=177) females N/A (N=84) males N/A (N=92)
• White total 8.0% (N=6,803) females 7.2% (N=3,380) males 8.8% (N=3,416)
• Multiple race total 12.2% (N=548) females 11.2% (N=307) males 13.4% (N=241)

11. Every physically forced to have sexual intercourse (when they did not want to)

• Total 7.4% (N=15,735) females 10.5% (N=7,926) males 4.5% (N=7,748)
• AI/AN total 13.1% (N=135) females N/A (N=52) males N/A (N=81)
• Asian total 5.7% (N=733) females 6.4% (N=396) males 4.9% (N=337)
• Black total 10.0% (N=2,492) females 12.0% (N=1,286) males 7.9% (N=1,201)
• Hispanic total 8.4% (N=4,680) females 11.2% (N=2,391) males 5.7% (N=2,276)
• NHOPI total 11.9% (N=175) females N/A (N=83) males N/A (N=91)
• White total 6.3% (N=6,696) females 10.0% (N=3,309) males 3.2% (N=3,380)
• Multiple race total 9.3% (N=540) females 11.2% (N=301) males 6.9% (N=239)

SUICIDE

12. Felt sad or hopeless (almost every day for 2 or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing some usual activities during the 12 months before survey)

• Total 26.1% (N=16,232) females 33.9% (N=8,199) males 19.1% (N=7,969)
• AI/AN total 30.8% (N=139) females N/A (N=55) males N/A (N=82)
• Asian total 23.5% (N=741) females 26.4% (N=399) males 20.5% (N=342)
• Black total 27.7% (N=2,811) females 37.5% (N=1,444) males 17.9% (N=1,360)
• Hispanic total 31.6% (N=4,723) females 39.7% (N=2,420) males 23.6% (N=2,290)
• NHOPI total 33.4% (N=177) females N/A (N=83) males N/A (N=93)
• White total 23.7% (N=6,801) females 31.1% (N=3,381) males 17.2% (N=3,413)
• Multiple race total 31.1% (N=544) females 35.8% (N=304) males 25.4% (N=240)

13. Seriously considered attempting suicide (during 12 months before the survey)

• Total 13.8% (N=16,200) females 17.4% (N=8,189) males 10.5% (N=7,966)
• AI/AN total 19.0% (N=139) females N/A (N=55) males N/A (N=82)
• Asian total 14.9% (N=740) females 16.9% (N=399) males 12.9% (N=341)
• Black total 13.0% (N=2,805) females 18.1% (N=1,438) males 7.8% (N=1,360)
• Hispanic total 15.4% (N=4,722) females 20.2% (N=2,417) males 10.7% (N=2,292)
• NHOPI total 19.2% (N=179) females N/A (N=84) males N/A (N=94)
• White total 13.1% (N=6,792) females 16.1% (N=3,377) males 10.5% (N=3,408)
• Multiple race total 18.0% (N=545) females 21.2% (N=306) males 14.3% (N=239)

14. Made a plan about how they would attempt suicide (during the 12 months before survey)

• Total 10.9% (N=16,213) females 13.2% (N=8,183) males 8.6% (N=7,965)
• AI/AN total 17.0% (N=139) females N/A (N=55) males N/A (N=82)
• Asian total 12.6% (N=740) females 14.7% (N=398) males 10.4% (N=342)
• Black total 9.8% (N=2,798) females 13.3% (N=1,433) males 6.2% (N=1,358)
• Hispanic total 12.2% (N=4,720) females 15.4% (N=2,418) males 9.0% (N=2,289)
• NHOPI total 13.2% (N=177) females N/A (N=84) males N/A (N=92)
• White total 10.3% (N=6,796) females 12.3% (N=3,376) males 8.5% (N=3,413)
• Multiple race total 13.2% (N=545) females 14.4% (N=306) males 11.8% (N=239)

15. Attempted suicide 1 or more times (during the 12 months before survey)

• Total 6.3% (N=14,609) females 8.1% (N=7,475) males 4.6% (N=7,082)
• AI/AN total 10.0% (N=122) females N/A (N=51) males N/A (N=69)
• Asian total 4.0% (N=681) females 3.7% (N=367) males 4.3% (N=314)
• Black total 7.9% (N=2,308) females 10.4% (N=1,206) males 5.4% (N=1,096)
• Hispanic total 8.1% (N=4,132) females 11.1% (N=2,151) males 5.1% (N=1,972)
• NHOPI total 11.9% (N=155) females N/A (N=73) males N/A (N=81)
• White total 5.0% (N=6,459) females 6.5% (N=3,237) males 3.8% (N=3,215)
• Multiple race total 12.4% (N=509) females 13.7% (N=289) males 10.8% (N=220)

Okay, that's a lot to unpack. To begin with, there are some prevalence rates that merit discussions in their totality. The last survey item on suicide attempt(s) surprised me a bit. Over 1 in every 20 youths reports a suicide attempt within the last year. Survey item #11 on sexual assault also surprised me, with about 1 in 10 girls reporting forced sexual intercourse. These are American high school students. I knew these rates were high for young adults, but not this high for high schoolers.

Now onto the prevalence rates by "race." For 12/15 survey items displayed here, "American Indian or Alaskan Native" youth had either the highest or second highest prevalence rates. They had the highest rates for 8/15 survey items. "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander" youth were in the "top two" for 11/15 survey items. None of the other construted "race" groups ranked among the "top two" slots nearly as much.

One could easily aruge the sample sizes for these groups are too small to make generalizations, and thus, they are not representative. That's a valid concern. At the same time, one cannot help but notice that these groups are also the colonized groups in the United States (well, for the NHOPI group, Hawaiians are). True, their proportion of the total U.S. teen population is small, but that is largely because of their colonial history.

These consistently high rates across numerous youth violence constructs demand further research with those communities and further illustrate colonialism's deleterious impacts on indigenous peoples. Without strong data, these communities have a more difficult time advocating for services and policy change. The feds need to get the concentrated research with indigenous communities conducted, and start providing these communities with more robust youth, family, and occupational resources, now!

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Jim Valvano: Don't Ever Give Up...

ESPY's on tonight. I remember watching this back in the college days, not knowing who Jim Valvano was. His speech inspried me nonetheless. Nothing academic here, which is okay for now.




Winner tonight, Nugets coach, George Karl.




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Male Objectification and Occupational Anxieties, the Body Panic Continues

It's pretty funny, the commercials you'll catch when you watch ESPN. What's new? -- the slimming garment, designed for men! The most interesting part of the commercial, seen in the video below at 1:25, is how they tie in occupational anxieties to one's physicality.



Hey, if ya look good and feel good, better chance of getting the job! I suppose there's some truth to confidence and employment. Still, the way these folks play off the economic recession and its tie to male "body panic" is highly problematic. This is a good example of how men's bodies are increasingly becoming objectified, especially their upper bodies.