The crisis in achieving a sense of manhood among Israeli veterans who suffer from posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Abstract

Although war is a central setting in which men are judged by their success in meeting gendered societal expectations, literature regarding the effects of (a) exposure to a combat event and (b) combat-related posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) on a men’s sense of masculinity is limited. The aim of the current study was to examine how Israeli veterans with PTSS perceived their masculinity as a result of the traumatic combat event. We also wished to better understand how they achieve their sense of manhood, while coping with PTSS, and the contributions of war and its aftermath to gender role stress in the Israeli context. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted. Fourteen Israeli former combat soldiers with PTSS participated in comprehensive interviews in which common themes were identified via content analysis. The findings revealed two main changes in the veteran’s sense of masculinity: (a) a crisis in achieving a sense of masculinity due to the traumatic event, and the veteran’s self-perception as having failed to fulfill “manly” expectations, and (b) extremism in traditional masculine behaviors as compensation for that crisis. These findings point to how the PTSS-afflicted veteran’s sense of manhood is affected by his perceptions of the ideal Israeli warrior, and how these perceptions contribute to a unique form of gender role stress: a narcissistic masculine wound, which may lead men to use violence and hypersexuality in an attempt to reclaim their masculinity. The role of attitudes toward traditional masculine norms in the process of treatment, change, and recovery is discussed.

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

“…Moreover, trauma often provokes feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness that are antithetical to hegemonic masculinity’s emphasis on control (Neilson et al 2020). Indeed, veterans with PTSS experience their mental health symptoms as inconsistent with hegemonic norms, and therefore as a sign of weakness, personal failure, and loss of masculinity (Caddick et al 2015; Gilbar et al 2019)—a collapse “from hero to zero” (Shields et al 2017).…”

“…This sense of emasculation often continues for many years after the initial trauma, given the veterans’ inability to perform valorized masculine roles like breadwinner and head of the family due to the functional difficulties caused by PTSD (Gilbar et al 2019). To reaffirm their masculinity, veterans sometimes engage in aggression and aggressive heterosexuality (Elder et al 2017; Gilbar et al 2019).…”

“…This sense of emasculation often continues for many years after the initial trauma, given the veterans’ inability to perform valorized masculine roles like breadwinner and head of the family due to the functional difficulties caused by PTSD (Gilbar et al 2019). To reaffirm their masculinity, veterans sometimes engage in aggression and aggressive heterosexuality (Elder et al 2017; Gilbar et al 2019). Several studies found an association between conformity with facets of traditional masculinity and PTSD severity among men with PTSD (Cox and O’Loughlin 2017; Neilson et al 2020), and between flexibility in commitment to and enacting traditional masculine norms and greater well-being among them (Caddick et al 2015; Kivari et al 2018; Shields et al 2017).…”

“…Despite recent calls to focus on the positive qualities of traditional masculinity—for example, the need to display that one is coping with danger can be a resource for health and well-being in relation to PTSD (Caddick et al 2015)—the prevailing perspective in therapy frames many problems, such as aggression, violence, and detached fathering, as resulting from socialization to traditional masculinity (Englar-Carlson and Kiselica 2013). To cope with these problematic gendered behaviors, men are encouraged to shift away from hegemonic expectations for men and instead adopt alternative attitudes and behaviors (Gilbar et al 2019; Jobson 2010) that correspond with the therapeutic new masculinity ideology (Kaplan et al 2017). This perspective draws from mainstream research on men’s psychology that underlines gender role conflict and the problems resulting from men’s adherence to restrictive gender roles (APA 2018; Vandello et al 2008).…”

“…The few studies conducted on this topic emphasize that the traumatic experience and its outcomes are inconsistent with hegemonic norms of masculinity, which can result in men feeling emasculated. These can lead to interpersonal problems that put men at risk for mental health issues and violence (Caddick et al 2015; Fox and Pease 2012; Gilbar et al 2019, 2021; Higate 2003; Hockey 2003; Smith 2002).…”