In the United States, there are particular groups of people that are exposed to a disproportionately high risk of experiencing adverse outcomes. Racial minorities, members of the LGBT community and the poor are just some of these groups. To belong to any of these groups predisposes one to painful experiences. The situation is worse for individuals whose identities are in the intersection of the different factors. For example, an African American gay man who is from a poor community is likely to grapple with such hardships as social isolation, poverty, substance abuse and irresponsible sexual behavior. The film Moonlight underscores how vulnerabilities can combine to yield negative outcomes. This film also makes it clear that there are some strengths and resources that those in less than ideal situations can leverage to facilitate development. Moonlight is a reminder that human development is a function of a wide range of both protective and risk factors.
Protective Factors
The systems and attachment theories are among the models that can be used to understand how different factors shape human development. Essentially, the systems theory is concerned with the role that larger societal forces play in influencing human development (Hutchinson, 2014). For example, according to this theory, such resources as good role models and access to supportive services play a critical role in driving health development. In the absence of these resources, an individual is likely to experience hardships that hamper their development. On the other hand, the attachment theory underscores the importance of strong emotional connections between a child and their caregiver (Goldberg & Kerr, 2013). This theory posits that for a child to undergo healthy development, they must have strong ties with their caregiver. The emotional connection allows the child to feel accepted, validated and loved. In the following section, some of the protective factors that influenced Chiron’s development are identified. The discussion also applies the systems and the attachment theories to Chiron’s life cycle with the goal of establishing how his life and environment are reflected in the two theories.
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As noted above, the attachment theory underscores the need for parents to establish close relationships with their children. This proposition has found confirmation in research. For example, Carroll, Gruenewald, Taylor, Janicki-Deverts, Matthews and Seeman (2013) conducted a study to establish the impact that parental love and warmth had on the risk of developing coronary artery among young adults. They found that parental attention and love had a protective impact. Chiron’s life further validates the attachment theory. It is true that Chiron did not receive much love from his mother. In fact, his mother was abusive, neglectful and simply ineffective as a parent. However, Chiron received immense love and support from Juan, a drug dealer in his neighborhood. While Juan did not serve as the perfect role model, he challenged Chiron to pursue his own path. He can be regarded as Chiron’s parent as he performed roles that are designated for parents. Juan worked closely with Teresa, his girlfriend to offer comfort and encouragement to Chiron. For example, there is a scene where Chiron asks them what a “faggot” means. Their reply is that this term is used as an insult against homosexuals. Juan and Teresa also offer Chiron shelter and food. Thanks to care that Juan and Teresa offered, Chiron was able to develop some confidence and find some form of fulfillment. For instance, he stands up for himself when he beats up Terrel who was among those who bullied him. Juan also teaches Chiron how to swim, equipping him with a practical and essential life skill. The relationship between Chiron and Juan underscores the need for parents to be involved in the lives of their children.
The support that he received from Juan and Teresa is not the only protective factor that insulated Chiron against harm during his development. Friendship is another protective factor. Throughout the film, Chiron is unable to form many close relationships. However, he is able to establish a strong and lasting relationship with Kevin. Their relationship and the impact that it has on his wellbeing can best be understood through the lens of the systems theory. As already stated, this theory posits that larger social forces work together to influence behavior and development. When one’s social environment is constituted of positive forces, the systems theory predict that they will experience healthy development. On the other hand, this theory warns that social environments that are replete with hazards and threats hinder healthy growth. Through his friendship with Kevin, Chiron finds a confidante and a romantic partner. The friendship provides Chiron with an avenue to air his grievances and to express his desires. For example, there is a scene where Chiron and Kevin are seated by the beach. They discuss their dreams and frustrations. Kevin remains involved in Chiron’s life. For instance, he calls Chiron to share with him the joy and fulfilment that fatherhood has offered. Whereas the friendship between the two is rather complicated, it offers insights into the importance of strong social connections. As the systems theory makes clear, these connections have a protective effect. It can be said that through his friendship with Kevin, Chiron found acceptance as a gay man. Research and literature shows that friendship serves an essential function in personal development. For example, in his text, Nick Rumens (2011) observe that for gay men, true and deep friendships are tremendously important. These individuals deal with rejection and abuse and the friendships that they are able to form serve as much-needed sources of comfort and validation.
Risk Factors
Most of the elements in Chiron’s life are risk factors. The lack of parental warmth is among the risk factors. In a previous discussion, it was noted that Chiron does not receive much love from his mother. She is abusive and manipulative. Her behavior creates a toxic environment that hinders Chiron from experiencing healthy development. Both the systems and the attachment theories allow one to establish the link between Chiron’s home environment and his poor development. He lacks confidence and is often the victim of bullying and abuse. These adverse experiences can be blamed on his mother. An examination of existing research shows that the style that a parent adopts influences how their child develops. Pinquart (2017) is among the researchers who acknowledge that parenting styles influence child development. After reviewing literature, he determined that children whose parents are neglectful, authoritarian, and harsh tend to exhibit externalizing problems. Essentially, this finding means that poor parenting yields such unacceptable behaviors as aggression, violence, defiance and crime. Given the fact that Chiron’s mother was abusive, neglectful and manipulative, it is fairly easy to understand why he exhibited various problems. For example, Chiron hits Terrell with a chair. This incident marks his first encounter with the law enforcement as police officers respond to the incident. The parenting style that Chiron’s mother adopts can also be blamed for his low confidence levels and his general frustration and lack of joy.
In the discussion above, focus has been given to Chiron’s experiences when he was a child. It is worth noting that the impacts of the abuse and neglect that he suffered in the hands of his mother followed him into adulthood. In the film, it is revealed that Chiron has served time in prison and that he is involved in the drug trade. There is no doubt that these outcomes are the direct result of poor parenting. In order to appreciate the interaction between parenting and child development, one needs to consult research. Schroeder (2009) joined forces with Bulanda, Giordano, and Cernkovich to explore the impact of parenting style on criminal behavior. They observed that the children of uninvolved parents face a greater risk of becoming criminals. Furthermore, these researchers noted that poor parenting can cause depression, anger and frustration. The life of Chiron confirms these research findings. For much of his life, he struggles with anger, crises of confidence and confusion regarding his sexuality. His mother failed to provide the guidance that he needed to make sense of his life and sexuality in particular. The systems and the attachment theory help to shed further life on the course of Chiron’s life. Since he did not enjoy parental love or support, he became involved in drug peddling. Applying the systems theory, one is able to appreciate that to understand Chiron’s life, it is important to examine his social environment and his mother’s parenting approach in particular.
The role that fathers play in the development of their children, particularly sons, cannot be overstated. When these fathers are either lacking or uninvolved in the lives of their children, adverse outcomes can be expected. The life of Chiron serves as evidence for this. One of the functions that fathers perform is that they educate their children on societal norms. For example, a father imparts on his son knowledge on masculinity. Enderstein and Boonzaier (2013) confirm that fathers are important behavioral agents. They note that through proper caregiving, fathers can transform the lives of their children by sensitizing them on masculinity. In Moonlight, viewers are not introduced to Chiron’s father. It is therefore fair to assume that his father is absent. Chiron lacks the traits that are traditionally associated with masculinity. For example, he seems timid, fragile, and lacks confidence. Furthermore, his mother suggests that his behavior is effeminate and this behavior is to blame for the bullying that he experiences. When confronted by Juan, his mother indicates that Chiron’s manner of walking is inconsistent with masculinity and this is why his schoolmates bully him. It is reasonable to expect that had his father been involved in his life, Chiron would have developed into a strong and confident child who is able to defend his wellbeing and dignity. The absence of Chiron’s father and its influence on his development echoes the attachment theory. It has already been stated that this theory recognizes the importance of strong connections between parents and children. Since his father is absent, Chiron is simply unfamiliar with the warmth and the guidance that fathers offer. It is little wonder that he is easily irritated, experiences isolation and is involved in crime as an adult.
So far, much focus has been given to the impact that Chiron’s personal relationships had on his development. To gain a full understanding of the course of his life, it is vital to explore larger societal issues. The high prevalence of various crimes in his neighborhood is among the issues that deserve special focus. Chiron is from a poor, crime-infested neighborhood in Miami, Florida. Substance abuse and peddling, and prostitution are among the crimes that define this area. Furthermore, this neighborhood is dominated by African Americans. All these issues combine to create an environment which hampers healthy growth. A number of researchers have cautioned that communities inhabited by minorities tend to witness high levels of criminality which make it difficult for children to undergo proper development. For instance, Kulis, Marsiglia, Sicotte and Nieri (2007) joined forces to examine the effect of minority status on such issues as substance abuse. The focus of their study was a Southwestern city that is mostly made up of Latinos. They note that being a minority in an impoverished neighborhood is a risk factor for substance abuse and criminal behavior. This observation is not surprising given that the attachment and the systems theory posit that negative societal realities have a damaging effect on the child development process. In an earlier section, it was noted that Chiron becomes involved in the drug trade. It is reasonable to theorize that his involvement in peddling dangerous and illegal substances is the result of his upbringing in the Miami neighborhood. Poverty pushes the residents of this neighborhood to resort to crime. Furthermore, in order to stave off threats to one life, individuals are forced to embrace ‘toughness’ through criminal behavior and substance abuse. In addition to causing him to serve jail term, the substance abuse problem also robs Chiron of the love and attention of his mother. She is addicted to cocaine and engages in such behaviors as prostitution so as to sustain her destructive lifestyle. There is no doubt that Chiron’s life was shaped by the socioeconomic factors in his environment.
Today, members of the LGBT community grapple with various challenges. Violence, ostracization and abuse are some of these challenges. The experiences of those from minority and poor communities are much worse. This is according to Hill (2013) who observes that the African American community is thought of as being homophobic. In Moonlight, it is revealed that Chiron struggles to find sexual fulfiment. He opens up about his struggles to Kevin by sharing that he has been unable to find intimacy with another person since their encounter when they were younger. It is fairly easy to understand why Chiron struggles to express his sexuality freely. He is from a community that is deeply homophobic and his neighborhood is riddled with economic hardships and such social challenges as substance abuse. As the attachment and systems theory suggest, it is simply impossible for a gay African American man to live freely in a community which is intolerant and dangerous. These theories indicate that one’s life course is defined by the dynamics of their social environment.
Significant Events
It is critical to identify some of the significant events which had tremendous effects on the life of Chiron and those around him. Among these events include his interactions with Juan. As already noted, Juan served as a father figure who provided guidance, support and love. His involvement in Juan’s life must have provided him with the sense of validation he needed to remain true to his sexual identity. It can also be argued that through his interactions with Juan, Chiron became introduced to drug peddling since Juan was a drug dealer. Another significant event is Chiron’s brief sexual experience with Kevin. While it did not deliver lasting satisfaction, this experience served to strengthen his sexual identity. Perhaps the most important event in Chiron’s life occurred in his adulthood when he met his mother. This event offered him the opportunity to repair their relationship. It is worth noting that most of the important events had a damaging effect on Chiron’s life. The bullying that he suffered in school, the abuse he endured in the hands of his mother and the frustration that he felt for being unable to live out his sexuality are just some of these negative experiences. Regardless of their exact impact on Chiron’s life, the positive and negative experiences shaped his development in some way.
In conclusion, it is important to provide children with resources and an environment that facilitates healthy development. Unfortunately, for millions of children, their parents are unable to create a healthy environment. Chiron is among these children. As he grows up, he grapples with challenges that include bullying and lack of clarity regarding his sexuality. Parental abuse and the lack of fatherly love are other hardships that he faces. These challenges manifest throughout his life. In addition to being unable to find sexual or romantic fulfiment, Chiron is also drawn to the life of crime and serves a prison sentence as a result. His life is evidence that the systems and the attachment theories offer valid accounts of how environmental factors influence child development. The main take-away from the film is that a healthy environment is a prerequisite for proper child growth.
References
Carroll, J. E., Gruenewald, T. L., Taylor, S. E., Janicki-Deverts, D., Matthews, K. A., & Seeman, T. E. (2013). Childhood abuse, parental warmth, and adult multisystem biological risk in the coronary artery risk development in young adults study. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1315458110
Enderstein, A. M., & Boonzaier, F. (2012). Narratives of young South African fathers: redefining masculinity through fatherhood. Journal of Gender Studies, 24 (5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2013.856751
Goldberg, S., & Kerr, J. (2013). Attachment theory: social, developmental, and clinical perspectives. London: Routledge.
Hill, M. J. (2013). Is the black community more homophobic?: reflections on the intersectionality of race, class, gender, culture and religiosity of the perception of homophobia in the black community. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 17 (2), 208-14.
Hutchinson, G. S. (2014). Five theories in social work. Retrieved February 11, 2019 from https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/141851/Hutchinson_GS.pdf
Pinquart, M. (2017). Associations of parenting dimensions and styles with externalizing problems of children and adolescents: An updated meta-analysis. Developmental Psychology , 53 (5), 873-932.
Rumens, N. (2011). Queer company. The role and meaning of friendship in gay men’s work lives. London: Routledge.
Schroeder, R. D., Bulanda, R. E., Giordano, P. C., & Cernkovich, S. A. (2009). Parenting and adult criminality: an examination of direct and indirect effects by race. Journal of Adolescent Research, 25 (1), 64-98.
