“I could just exist … not in a box”: Experiential examinations of masculinity within a contemporary men’s group.

Abstract

Traditional Western conceptualizations of masculinity portray men as stoic, strong, and competitive, leaving little room for men to know and express more vulnerable parts of themselves. Men's groups, or group-level interventions to support issues of men's health, may be helpful in challenging stigmas that limit help-seeking and emotional expression. To better understand the phenomenological experience of individuals participating in men's groups and how attitudes toward masculinity change, we interviewed 14 men enrolled in a 6-week men's group program. Based on our analyses of the interviews, we present a grounded theory explanation for how men come to understand and reshape their attitudes toward masculinity. We found that men's groups provide an arena where vulnerability can be expressed and received with empathy and respect to give rise to experiences of belonging. This gives men new information on what it means to be as "strong as a man." Public Significance StatementThis study builds on past research that has argued that masculinity is socially constructed and that traditional views of masculinity may be contributing to poorer mental health outcomes. Based on qualitative accounts of experiences in a contemporary men's group, these groups may be an effective means of reconceptualizing what it means to "be a man." Our findings suggest that sharing (and observing other men share) distress and being met with respect, rather than disdain, offers a sense of belongingness that challenges and redefines their attitudes toward masculinity.