Contradictions in Young Black Men’s Attitudes and Practices: Philogyny Towards Their Mothers and Misogyny to Other Women on a Housing Estate

The focus of this ethnographic research, which took place in London in 2019, was on a small number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic young men and their relationships with their mothers. Data came from informal conversations and recorded interviews, capturing the perspectives of the young men, mothers and youth workers. We draw on the concept of philogynous masculinities—defined as the fondness, love and adoration of women—a neglected research area. While practicing a distinctive and often violent cultural form of street masculinity, our objective is to show that these young men can, and often do, display a caring, loving, respectful and highly protective side in their attitudes, practices and relationships with their mothers. This recognition starkly contrasts the co-existence of the highly misogynistic way they generally treat other young women whose bodies are objectified and sexualized.