Sociological research on masculinities has long examined how men respond to shifting gender norms, often through violence when their masculinity is challenged. Drawing on 58 life history interviews with men imprisoned for assault or homicide across six Latin American countries, this paper explores generational shifts in how men narrate interpersonal violence. Participants were grouped by generation – 1950s–60s, 1970s–80s, and 1990s–2000s – reflecting key socio-political transformations in the region. Thematic analysis identi ed two central domains: narratives of violence and re ections on masculinity. Across all groups, violence was framed as a response to perceived threats. However, older men often viewed violence as inevitable or routine; those born in the 1970s–80s connected it to unresolved emotional grievances; younger men expressed greater ambivalence, sometimes questioning violence and traditional masculinity norms. Re ective accounts of masculinity were largely absent in older generations but became more integrated into the life stories of younger men. These ndings suggest that narratives of masculinity challenges have changed generationally in response to historical transformations. As younger generations demonstrate increasing re exivity, their need to justify violent behavior signals the emergence of a more hybrid vocabulary. This study underscores the importance of historical context and temporality in understanding the shifting gender frameworks surrounding male violence.