From Military Masculinity toward Hybrid Masculinities: Constructing a New Sense of Manhood among Veterans Treated for PTSS

Abstract

This study examines how Israeli men who are army veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress and consequently participated in therapy engage “new masculinities” ideologies. Drawing from interview data with these veterans, we find changes in the men’s perceptions of masculinity and sense of themselves as men. They expressed this shift through criticisms of military masculinity and disassociating from the idea of man-as-fighter, disputing the sociocultural category of hegemonic masculinity, and performing practices identified as feminine. The men portrayed this movement, away from endorsing hegemonic military masculinity toward affirming “new masculinity” ideology rooted in therapeutic discourse, which emphasizes sensitivity, emotional disclosure, self-care, and seeking help, as intertwined with their mental recovery—and they attributed both to therapy. These findings suggest that new masculinity ideology embedded in therapeutic discourse, can offer men suffering from PTSS a template to reaffirm their status as men—although men of a different kind—and indicate the possibilities for therapy in this endeavor. However, while the men adopted new masculinity ideologies, they also conformed to hegemonic masculinity, constructing hybrid masculinities. The study joins growing evidence that hybrid masculinities may have positive effects in enabling men to overcome the limitations of hegemonic masculinity, while also conforming to its expectations more broadly and maintaining men’s power.

Traditional masculinity ideology and psychotherapy treatment outcome for military service veteran men.

“…In sum, our findings indicated that higher endorsement of self-reliance may impede the effects of treatment on outcome; however, toughness endorsement was associated with greater improvement in psychosocial functioning after treatment was over. These findings are consistent with the argument that different aspects of traditional masculinity norms have differing impacts on treatment outcome among men (e.g., Spector-Mersel & Gilbar, 2021).…”

Barriers to and facilitators of help-seeking behavior among Israeli men who experience intimate partner violence: A qualitative study.

“…There is a particular need to screen and assess men’s perception regarding failure to comply with hegemonic gender norms, since this failure may intensify the risk of harming themselves by disengaging from services or of bidirectional IPV. Second, programs are advised to encourage reformulation of masculinity by deconstructing gender binaries regarding who can engage in particular expressions of gender and highlighting the inherent limits of traditional masculinity, such as avoidance of sharing emotions, which could enhance their help-seeking behavior and recovery (Spector-Mersel & Gilbar, 2021). In line with these approaches and the therapeutic value of cross-gender experience of victimization found here, the promotion of cross-gender struggle against violence is recommended.…”

Breaking Ranks: How Medically Released Canadian Military Veteran Men Understand the PTSD Diagnosis

“…How can we create interventions that consider a revised military masculine culture within which distress occurs? A shift toward inclusivity, mutual support, and collaboration would embody a person-centered approach, often deemphasized in medicalized approaches (Callaghan, 2014;Cocker & Joss, 2016;Laska et al, 2013;Resick et al, 2015;Spector-Mersel & Gilbar, 2021). Collaboration extends beyond patient-provider relationships.…”