This research focused on a group of 25 young men in a violent, urban setting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who faced family violence, racial discrimination, class barriers, low educational attainment, poverty and widespread community violence associated with drug trafficking gangs called comandos. The main goal of this study was to add to our understanding of coping and adolescent development, including gender identity, in low income and violent settings. The research question was: How did this particular group of non-comando-involved young men achieve a reasonably healthy identity and cope with common developmental issues in this violent, stressful setting?
Using life history interviews, interaction with the young men during one year and interviews with key informants in the community, including family members, the research analysis focuses on identifying salient development themes and explaining how some of the young men coped in positive ways. In analyzing their life histories, seven major salient developmental themes emerge: (1) coping in a violent, low income setting; (2) coping with social exclusion that came from living in this setting; (3) forming a “hard worker” versus comando identity; (4) the apparent lack of connection with the school system, and problems related to low educational attainment; (5) learning to relate to women in intimate relationships—whether in relationships based on mistrust and callous attitudes or in more gender equitable ways—and fatherhood; (6) family-related stresses, including family conflict and family violence; and (7) relative passivity and the lack of a politicized discourse about their life conditions.
Three major issues seem associated with positive coping among these young men: (1) associating with this particular non-comando peer group; (2) subjective reality or having a positive “subjective spin”; and (3) the abilities of most of their families to provide a stable, caregiving environment in the face of poverty and community violence. Program implications that emerge from these conclusions include: (1) the need to be empathetic young men and create spaces where they are welcomed; (2) the need for group and individual activities that promote reflections about life histories and help young men perceive the costs of some violent and machista versions of masculinity; (3) the need to offer young men opportunities to be mentored; (4) the need to provide connections to spaces where young men can learn new cultural and vocational skills; and (5) the need to promote a politicized discussion about the social forces that lead to marginalization.