Removing the Mask: College Men and Post-COVID Resocialization

The COVID-19 pandemic altered the ways that college men experience, interpret, and understand their perceptions of masculinity. This qualitative, phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of 28 second- and third-year men students. Three primary themes emerged from the analysis: navigating and adjusting to change; managing social reentry; and redefining masculinity. These findings provide insight into how the pandemic served as a catalyst for evolving definitions of masculinity and gender expectations on campus.