Under the watchful eye: Masculinity among Latino men in the wake of Arizona SB 1070

The research presented in this chapter used narrative analysis to explore how Latino-identifying men demonstrated masculine performance in the context of cultural scrutiny. In 2010, the State of Arizona passed into law a controversial immigration policy. As a result of this legislation, ethnic minorities - particularly those identifying as Hispanic, Latino, or Mexican - perceived a heightened sense of state-sanctioned scrutiny and stigmatization. Twenty men completed in-depth, bibliographic interviews focusing on themes of cultural masculinity, gender performance, and sexuality. In the current analysis, narrative interpretations examined how men demonstrated a masculine role - including agenticism and providing for a family - while simultaneously disregarded by state law. Narrative analyses revealed men's understanding of Arizona's immigration policy paralleled the storied nature of bullies. Despite perceptions of societal disrespect, men configured a sense of masculinity and gender performance steeped in cultural heritage.