POWER AND RESISTANCE: THE IMPACT OF GENDER, SEXUALITY, AND SOCIAL NETWORKS ON THE HEALTH OF MEXICAN MEN IN TEXAS

The Mexican community values the gender binary and heteronormativity. Because of this, health discourse on Mexican queer men generally focuses on the experiences of men who embrace hegemonic masculinity. This anthropological study explores how gender, social networks, and sexuality intersect to impact the health of Mexican queer men. In addition, this study discusses patterns leading to STI risk in the Mexican queer community. Eighteen Mexican men were recruited in Dallas and Houston, Texas using snowball sampling. All these men had lived in Texas for at least three years. Their sexual orientation ranged from bisexual, gay, and queer to undefined or non-heterosexual. The participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach. Interviews were conducted via facetime, zoom, or phone call. Participant observation was also used to collect data. Social network theory, queer theory, Chicana Feminist theory, and biopolitics were all used to analyze the identities and health experiences of these men. The ethnographic study found a link between gender nonconformity and mental health. The narratives of gender nonconforming men showed how femininity is tied to power, resistance, and resilience. Femininity in Mexican queer men destabilizes power dynamics by challenging gender ideologies and heteronormativity. This research showed the importance of gender diversity in Mexican health discourse.