It is quite interesting how we fight for the total elimination of the stereotypes associated with females with no or little concern of the stereotypes associated with males. Most often than not, when we think of men, we think of providers, protectors, fixers and very strong and fearless beings and all these mental attributes translates into reality where they come with huge expectations. We can admit to the fact that not enough is done when masculinity and the mental health of men is concerned.
The perception society has towards the male identity had made it difficult for men to partake in therapies or even express their emotions for the fear of being judged or seen as weak. The modern society encourages men to talk about their mental health and release the emotional burden, however this same society views men through the lens of masculine norms hence they are expected to be the protector, to be strong and man up always because 'a true man cannot cry nor show his weaknesses'. For stereotypical toxic masculinity expressions as these, many men perceive death as a means to end their pain instead of opening up, and this is mainly due to the fear of being seen as vulnerable. According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2019, there were more than 700,000 people who died from suicide with men making more than half of this number (WHO, 2021).
Instead of trying to shape men to fit what patriarchal
masculinity defines them to be, I believe it is important that men are given the space to explore,
discover and define who they really are.
References
World Health Organization (2021). One in Every 100
Deaths is by suicides. Retrieved From: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-06-2021-one-in-100-deaths-is-by-suicide
I loved your post Maureen, this brings out one of the most crucial concerns of GAD, where do men fit in the whole women and gender development agenda? The normalization of gender roles and masculinity makes it challenging for men to be fully immersed in the GAD agenda. It is imperative to add them to the conversation about gender as a social construct, and at the same time not be insecure about losing power or agency. Though this sounds ideal, in practical sense this can be very challenging as patriarchal notions still exist and frame the identities of men. Involving men in GAD agendas, will unravel many layers of gender bases challenges and exchanges. However, as your article rightly explains, it is time we rework theoretical frameworks and policies to acknowledge the presence of men and their gender based needs. The changing times, that have allowed for greater discourse on gender, now demands equality in terms of gender based needs both for men and women.
ReplyDeleteHi Maureen,
ReplyDeleteI really like this post.
I think there are times we forget that men also need attention. Truly, being a man is really tough in today's society. A while back, Mabel posted a video on the divide with regard to the financial sector and how men knew a lot and a lot of females did not. This ultimately boils down to the expectations and stereotypes given to men as providers, financiers, fixers, and even protectors. A lot of times, we see different seminars and training for women but who is training the man? who is educating the man?
The expressions that men should not have breakdowns, men should not cry, and men should handle all situations perfectly have led to a lot of men taking their own lives untimely. This is really sad and I think that while attention is given to the needs of women, men should not be left out.
The inclusion of men in GAD is one of the postulations of GAD but while this looks good on paper and theoretically, I sincerely hope GAD experts would do more in implementing and achieving this practically.
Hi Maureen, I am happy conversations about men are gradually coming up. Some women complain about how men do not get actively involved in gender and development but then complain when they get too involved. I think a fine line of when men can be involved in GAD should be drawn.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this entry, it reminds me with the situation of male victims of violence in my region. In Egypt, multiple factors work together to keep partners locked up in abusive relationships. First, there are strong, conventional gender roles expectations, toxic masculinities, and patriarchal culture in the larger society and in the entities implementing the law. On the other hand, men who have experienced violence may not have the courage to disclose their stories due to the gender role expectations, social norms, and lack of formal and informal communication channels. Moreover, there are not any clear institutional interventions for the male victims, such as shelters, which exist for women victims of domestic violence’s cases. Finally, this issue is not well researched or funded by the international donors that serve and work on the gender-based violence (GBV) agenda in Egypt.
ReplyDeleteMaureen, wonderful post and topic choice! Personally as you and the rest of the class may know I am very interested in youth and women's health as well as development and have previously worked in youth development for many years and the subject of young's men's identity and masculinity is something I have been very interested in. I don't know if you have read the book, 'Dude You're A Fag' (2007) by CJ Pascoe but it was beyond interesting and moving. It is about Pascoe doing ethnographic research about masculinity and sexuality amongst male high school students and how the idea of masculinity is defined by dominance and control. I could not recommend it more! Another resource I have loved on the topic is the well-known documentary, 'The Mask You Live In' (2015) by Jennifer Siebel Newsom explores western culture's very narrow definition of masculinity and how it harms how younger male generations and society as a whole. Here's a link of the trailer if you or are readers are interested: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc45-ptHMxo). Thank you for discussing such an important subject!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi Maureen,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Stereotypes are also associated with men, and they are often affected by gender norms and systems from family relations, community values, and societal expectations. Regarding ‘masculinity’, men are also disadvantaged within the masculinity framework for those that do not conform to the social constructs. Moreover, there are hierarchies among men, and class, race, and ethnicity still play a role in male identification and representation. I believe in issues on gender identity, men are equally gendered beings and should be treated as such because they struggle with a lot of internal and external factors.
Another fan of your post here. Thank you for writing a clear and straightforward message. I see how harmful societal expectations can be for men, and no size fits them all. These assumptions also harm how men and women relate to each other. Also, the understanding of certain masculinities deepens and reinforces traditional gender roles.
ReplyDeleteSometimes this concept brings some questions for me about the advocacy related to being a particular type of woman. it feels like we (society) end up creating spaces where men and people who identify as men are allowed to be diverse. Still, regarding women, certain attitudes also keep being labeled as masculine or not feminine. I can think of an example of a time when a friend(male) shared with me some personal stuff related to his feelings with his male friends. He said that when something goes wrong in his daily life, he is more likely to reach out to a female friend to find emotional support and comfort because he feels that male friends feel uncomfortable with sharing feelings and see him as weak. He should not be feeling like this, but also, women should not be expected to carry the global emotional burden resulting from their social interactions.
We all deserve a world where LGBTQ, men, women, and non-binary can be diverse unapologetically.