“Real Men Don't”: Constructions of Masculinity and Inadvertent Harm in Public Health Interventions

Abstract

Research shows that constraining aspects of male gender norms negatively influence both women’s and men’s health. Messaging that draws upon norms of masculinity in health programming has been shown improve both women’s and men’s health, but some types of public health messaging (e.g., “Man Up!”) can reify harmful aspects of hegemonic masculinity that programs are working to change. We critically assess the deployment of hegemonic male norms in one particular STD campaign known as “Man Up.” We draw on ethical paradigms in public health to challenge programs that reinforce harmful aspects of gender norms and suggest the use of gender-transformative interventions that challenge constraining masculine norms and have been shown to have a positive effect on health behaviors.

Men’s depression and suicide literacy: a nationally representative Canadian survey

“…Reflected in our sex comparison findings are dominant ideologies of masculinity associated with poorer mental health practices previously described by Swami (2012) amid support for Bissett's (2007) assertion that men might best respond to targeted health information presented in non-judgmental or marginalizing ways. As such, public health initiatives that are goal-driven and geared specifically towards improving men's health literacy levels may prove key to more fully diagnosing and treating male depression (Fleming et al, 2014). The temptation of course with sex comparisons is to use difference to argue disparity or inequality in asserting the need for an ''either/or'' focus, which in the current study might beckon approaches targeting males.…”

Men's Views on Depression: A Systematic Review and Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research

“…Also, such interventions could reproduce traditional gender relations and power imbalances. Based on the evidence of harmful effects of traditional masculinity norms, some authors argue for interventions that seek to "transform gender roles and create more gender-equitable relationships" between men and women [65] . Thus, clinicians should not only consider the positive use of masculinity as an important resource of adaptive coping with depression, but also provide support to men in being more reflective and flexible with regard to their masculinity constructions.…”

Masculinity and HIV: Dimensions of Masculine Norms that Contribute to Men’s HIV-Related Sexual Behaviors

“…This research shows that men’s endorsement of these masculine norms is significantly associated with HIV-related behaviors like non-condom use and having a greater number of sexual partners, but it fails to explicate specifically which aspects of these norms lead men to engage in sexual behaviors that put themselves and their sexual partners at risk for HIV. Given the substantial interest in incorporating norms of masculinity into HIV prevention interventions (28–32), identifying the specific dimensions of masculine norms that explain this relationship will help interventionists apply theoretical conceptualizations of masculinity to HIV-prevention programs targeting heterosexual men’s HIV-related sexual behaviors.…”

“…While some interventions have tried to leverage norms of masculinity to promote healthy sexual behaviors (28), the empirical evidence describing dimensions of masculine norms that promote HIV-protective behaviors is still quite limited but provides potentially important insights for future research and practice.…”