Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 6-2015 Tongues Untied Truth Revealed: Body Image, Social Media, Identity Development, and Meaning-Making in Overweight and Obese Black Gay MSM Amari Ja-Lynn Enam Western Michigan University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Counseling Psychology Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, and the Race and Ethnicity Commons Recommended Citation Enam, Amari Ja-Lynn, "Tongues Untied Truth Revealed: Body Image, Social Media, Identity Development, and Meaning-Making in Overweight and Obese Black Gay MSM" (2015). Dissertations. 585. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/585 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TONGUES UNTIED TRUTH REVEALED: BODY IMAGE, SOCIAL MEDIA, IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT, AND MEANING-MAKING IN OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE BLACK GAY MSM by Amari Ja-Lynn Enam A dissertation submitted to the Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology June 2015 Doctoral Committee: Mary Z. Anderson, Ph.D., Chair Glinda Rawls, PhD James Croteau, PhD TONGUES UNTIED TRUTH REVEALED: BODY IMAGE, SOCIAL MEDIA, IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT, AND MEANING-MAKING IN OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE BLACK GAY MSM Amari Ja-Lynn Enam, Ph.D. Western Michigan University, 2015 This phenomenological study explored the meanings attributed to internalized messages about body image within the context of identity development from the perspectives of overweight/obese men of African descent (OMAD) among a group of 6 men who have sex with men (MSM). I was interested in those messages that have been incorporated, adopted, or integrated into OMAD-MSM’s sense of self. Informants shared body image-related experiences from interactions with family, friends, dating/sex partners, and the media/social media. Academic literature has explained identity development processes among African Americans through various lenses but research has not adequately explored the convergence of multiply oppressed social identities (gender, race, sexual orientation/behavior) in a manner that includes the potential impact of sizeism, intra- group fragmentation, and stigma on identity development. This study focused on men who have had voluntary sexual experiences and the sample was drawn from a metropolitan area in the South. Data was collected via qualitative interviewing. Using phenomenological data analysis, 10 essences of experience were identified. The essences/themes give insight into informants’ perspectives regarding: 1) obesity; 2) body image; 3) identity development; 4) how sense of self is shaped by the regional Black gay culture of the South; 5) social media in their lives; 6) emotional health; 7) rejected bodies; 8) the impact of not having the types of intimate partner relationships that they desire; 9) body acceptance experiences; and 10) resilience. Collectively, the informants provide both concrete and implied understandings about meanings attributed to their lived experiences. Counseling/research implications applied to OMAD-MSM related to holistic interventions; objectification; relational intimacy, black gay masculinity cultural expectations; resilience; and eating disorder assessment; are also identified. DEDICATION Travon AKA Tray-Tray ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Out of the hundreds of pages that I have written for inclusion in this dissertation, this (the acknowledgments page) is the part of the writing that I have saved for last…I don’t know why…but maybe because now it feels like it’s easier to focus on saying those things that I have been too busy to acknowledge while in the throes of research. The important people in my life have made their presence felt-through the blood, sweat, and the tears. I would not be here without the women who raised me Susan-the role model for how to accomplish things even when those things did not always seem possible or within reach…after I earned my Associate’s degree, mom you nudged me into the Bachelor’s….and pulled me through the Doctorate. Lena-the strong silent type-you say more with your silence than you do with your words. Bernadette “Bernie”-you were willing to listen and you pulled me out of the darkness just in time. Lord Bacon and Sir Roderick Wayne-you have offered continuous support from beginning to end-even when the happenings in my life began to eclipse the sun. T-Smoooooooove, Attorney at Law-Your accomplishments and strength of mind have been an inspiration. Tray-Tray, if I need a pick-me-up, all I have to do is take a look at the pictures in my phone-whether it’s you at 2, or you at 20, its still the same smile! ii Dr. Anderson-Its hard to believe that almost 2 decades have gone by-where did the time go-you helped me get through some of the worst days of my life. Daniel and Moneta-you both helped me with this project in major ways…I am grateful. I am appreciative for the opportunity given to me by the men who participated in this study to walk a mile in their shoes. When I think about giving up I hear the simple yet powerful words of the late Bishop Alpheus Williams…”there is more in you” resonating in my mind. In this world, so full of judgment, my sister LaTosha introduced me to someone who encouraged me to “live” despite what other people thought about my decisions because in his words…”at the end of the day its just you and your individual set of circumstances.” Those words continue to give me life. Its been a long road but Thank God for the journey…and for this temporary destination…as I plan to embark into a new phase of life. Amari Ja-Lynn Enam iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................. ii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1 Organization of Chapter ....................................................................................... 2 Statement of Problem ........................................................................................... 4 Central Research Questions ................................................................................. 6 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................... 7 Rationale for Transcendental Phenomenology .................................................... 8 Scope of Study ..................................................................................................... 9 Data Trustworthiness ........................................................................................... 10 Limitations ........................................................................................................... 10 Explicit Beliefs..................................................................................................... 11 Conceptual Framework ........................................................................................ 12 Social Constructivism and Cross Cultural Lens ...................................... 12 The Role of Culture ................................................................................. 13 Lexical Etymology ................................................................................... 15 Terminology/Definitions...................................................................................... 16 Tongues Untied .................................................................................................... 19 Summary .............................................................................................................. 20 iv Table of Contents—Continued CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................ 22 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 22 Civilizational Historicism .................................................................................... 25 Africa the Continent and Its People ..................................................................... 26 Physical Geography ................................................................................. 26 African Culture ........................................................................................ 26 African Diaspora .................................................................................................. 27 Slave Narratives ................................................................................................... 29 Master’s Surnames and Identity............................................................... 29 Slave Families and Wedding Gifts .......................................................... 30 Runaway Slave Advertisements .............................................................. 30 Beating, Torture, and Intimidation........................................................... 30 Descendants of Slaves.......................................................................................... 31 Same-Sex