“To me what’s important is to give respect. There is no respect in cheating”: Masculinity and Monogamy in Latino Men

Twenty Hispanic-/Latino-identifying men participated in a qualitative–quantitative mixed design study centrally focused on the melding of masculinity, masculine performances, and sexuality. Participants completed an in-depth, biographic interview and a questionnaire packet which included standard sexuality-based survey measures and other items assessing sexual attitudes and sexual history. Interviews explored men’s perceptions of masculinity, extracted meanings of romantic relationships, and attitudes about infidelity. Interpretive analyses from interview data revealed that two core traits, responsibility and respect, were central both to men’s conceptualization of masculinity and how they demonstrated intimacy in long-term relationships. Men believed their attitudes and values about relational monogamy and sexual infidelity were based foundationally on their efforts to personify responsibility and respect. Men rejected the social stereotype of the philandering Latino male. Men preferred and sought monogamous romantic and sexual relationships and characterized cheating as a demonstrable failure to honor the values of respect and responsibility.