Men are instructed on how to conduct themself in society by a system of social norms and laws known as masculine. Men must always be self-sufficient, powerful, tough, and emotionally powerful to preserve their status and gain respect.
During their lives, men start picking up the expectations of masculinity through witnessing and associating with members of society. Although they are typically associated with men, feminine and non-binary people can also participate in stereotypically masculine behaviours. The peer pressure that results from these archaic masculine ideals may. They have an impact on men’s physical and mental health, as well as the health of those around them.
Most men find it mentally challenging to adopt masculine ideals in public, according to surveys of the general population. Men who are negatively impacted by these stereotypes are more likely to experience anxiety and despair as well as other mental health problems. Additionally, they have a higher propensity to engage in dangerous behaviour, such as assaulting women, online bullying, domestic violence, and sexual harassment.
How may masculinity affect men’s health?
Men’s health is impacted by conformity to masculine beliefs. When men experience emotional or personal difficulties, it discourages them from obtaining help from professionals. As a result, there is a tendency towards poor mental health, drug use, and suicide ideation. There is proof that the important masculinity norm of self-reliance is specifically linked to suicidal thoughts in Australian men.
Men’s risk-taking actions and denial of medical care are strongly correlated with dominating masculinity norms. Together, these elements have an impact on the mortality rate and morbidity of men. Men worldwide have a 4-fold greater overall death rate than women. Men are 7 times more likely than women to die in homicides.
Men have a high rate of increased mortality, which is in part attributed to their risky habits, such as binge drinking, and drug use. They are reckless driving, high-risk recreational activities, and unrestrained and risky sexual conduct. All of these actions have some sort of link to the socially enforced male norms.
How can you deal with masculinity problems?
To enhance men’s health and general wellness, it is important to support gender equality and dispel stereotyping of gender. Collectively, members of a society should resist harmful masculinity norms.
In order to inform the community and policymakers about the negative effects of masculine norms on men’s health, it is also crucial to create evidence-based resources. When developing programs for health and wellbeing, these norms and their impacts should be taken into account.
There is data that shows gender-sensitive therapies are highly helpful in lowering depression and enhancing men’s mental health. These interventions challenge masculinity standards and encourage men to feel comfortable discussing their difficulties. Decreased violence and the spreading of the immunodeficient human virus are two further potential benefits of such actions (HIV).
Conclusion
Even though they choose male doctors over female doctors, men who subscribe to masculine ideas frequently feel more uncomfortable discussing chronic problems (diarrhoea, gas, mental symptoms) with male doctors. Now click here to learn some good things about masculine men.
They discuss health conditions with female doctors more regularly than they do with male doctors. In other words, even though they prefer male doctors, men who support masculine ideas feel more at ease bringing up problems with female doctors!
