Masculinity

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Men and Masculinities in the Global Health Promotion Discourse Professor Doris Ortega Queen Margaret University, March 2009

Introduction : 

Introduction Gendered discourses are an important means of formulating identities. Practices of “masculinity” and “femininity.” Where do ‘sex roles’ come from? Natural/biological or social/cultural categories?

The Construction of Masculinity in Adolescents and its Risks: Latin America : 

The Construction of Masculinity in Adolescents and its Risks: Latin America Results of a qualitative, multicentric study in nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2003 Rodrigo Aguirre

Challenges in the Health Field and Adolescent Development : 

Challenges in the Health Field and Adolescent Development Adolescent males are involved in risk behaviors that are detrimental to their health, women’s health and the health of society. The need to go beyond risk behaviors. Going where adolescents are, and knowing what they perceive as risk.

General Assumptions True or False? : 

General Assumptions True or False? There is still a traditional model of masculinity, but there are also “gaps,” which are gateways to psychosocial interventions. In the traditional model biomedical/epidemiological risks are subordinate to a greater risk: “not being a man.” Intervening in the construction of masculinity does not imply a lack of awareness of or a fight against the prevailing model, but rather an inclusion of alternative “healthy” discourses through these “gaps.”

General Assumptions : 

General Assumptions Is now the time to work on the process of constructing masculinity and not just risk behavior? What happens in your country regarding: Practices of “masculinity” and “femininity”? Write examples.

The Social Construction of Masculinity : 

The Social Construction of Masculinity Men construct themselves in relation and opposition to women, and demonstrate and represent themselves as men in front of other men. What is it like in your country?

What are the elements involved in the process of constructing masculinity? : 

What are the elements involved in the process of constructing masculinity? Mandates of masculinity Transitions and paths of masculinity Masculinity behaviors

Elements involved in the process of constructing masculinity : 

Elements involved in the process of constructing masculinity Mandates of masculinity Mandates answer the question: What does being a man mean to you? Masculinity is an imperative that must be followed in the various spheres of everyday life. Boys are dominated by strength and by the tension of how they should be.

Elements involved in the process of constructing masculinity : 

Elements involved in the process of constructing masculinity 2. Transitions and paths toward masculinity These answer the question: Do you consider yourself a man? Transitions are the activation of mandates. Transitions or paths are carried out on a polar axis (cowardly/brave; weak/strong).

Elements involved in the process of constructing masculinity : 

Elements involved in the process of constructing masculinity Behaviors of manliness Answer the question: Is what you’re doing manly or not? The adolescent must find behaviors through trial, limitation or tradition. They are lived by him and perceived by others as a milestone or event that brings him closer to manliness.

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Mandates, transitions and behaviors are begun, satisfied and activated through the young man’s constant interaction with: Himself (body and character) Family (father and mother) The female other or the male other as an object of desire Peers Elements involved in the process of constructing masculinity

Establishing traditional manliness and alternative paths : 

Establishing traditional manliness and alternative paths Homogeneity can be recognized within the mandates, transitions and behaviors in the young men from the different countries of the study. That homogeneity is represented by the prevailing traditional model of masculinity.   There are dissidences and alternatives to the traditional mandates, transitions and behaviors, which constitute “fissures” or vulnerabilities in the prevailing model, rather than alternative models.

“Fissures” in the traditional discourse of masculinity : 

“Fissures” in the traditional discourse of masculinity Fissures are potential change factors. The discourse of masculinity can change from the incorporation of dissident opinions within the dominant discourse. Fissures are established in contradictions of mandates, transitions and behaviors. A good part of alternative opinions come from the experiences young men have in two areas: In the sphere of relationships and conflicts with women; In the sphere of emotional experiences that are not accepted in the traditional model.

The body’s path : 

The body’s path

The character’s path : 

The character’s path

The “female other” (the male other), masculinity activated by desire : 

The “female other” (the male other), masculinity activated by desire

Paths with “peers” and “the street” : 

Paths with “peers” and “the street”

Challenges in work with young men : 

Challenges in work with young men Advance in developing an equitable and healthy masculinity (“good manhood”), incorporating behavior modification. A “good manhood” can be understood as the process that incorporates judgments, paths and alternative paths in the construction of masculinity. It is only possible to progress towards a “good manhood” by assuming existing images and representations of masculinity.   Approaching the risk perception of young men with biomedical risk perception.

To conclude : 

To conclude Men by ourselves ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE We can only change: In relation to and with the help of women By being in touch with our feelings and emotions With the help of external agents that know how to understand us and communicate with us.

Definitions : 

Definitions Sex is a biologically and physiologically determined category, assigned at birth on the basis of genital appearance and reproductive function.

Gender : 

Gender Gender is a social construct. It is conceived of as the social roles allocated to men and women in society. Gender roles include behavior patterns, obligations, and privileges considered appropriate for each sex. Some sociologists suggest that gender identities, ideas about masculinity and femininity, are partly constructed through the internalization and acknowledgment of gender stereotypes that freely circulate in our social environment. Consider ‘Fallacy of internalization’.

‘Sex Roles’ : 

‘Sex Roles’ Women Expressive Soft Empathetic Gentle Nurturing Submissive Emotional Talkative Anxiety prone Men Instrumental Strong Tough/hard Aggressive Ambitious/ provider Dominant Rational Discerning Heroic/ Brave

Biological/ neuroscientific / psychological research : 

Biological/ neuroscientific / psychological research Ethology- study of animals in their natural environment- can we extend these findings to humans? Men more aggressive Men have better spatial awareness Women are better at looking after children Women are more emotional Male babies have a preference for ‘systems’ Female babies have a preference for faces

Social constructionism : 

Social constructionism People actively construct their social world Marginalizes genetic and biological aspects of human life Knowledge and reality are contingent upon social relations and are made and re-made out of continuing processes such as reification, habitualization and sedimentation Schutz’s phenomenology- an analysis of the structure of the common sense world of everyday life- is an important influence For symbolic interactionism and ethnomethodologists, psychological and biological factors can be explained by reference to social facts

Gender as Performance : 

Gender as Performance For Garfinkel, sexuality is a game of presentation and convincing by role-playing Notions of masculinity and femininity change over time The notion of the sexes is socially constructed- Garfinkel uses the notion of transexualism to test our ideas of the natural body Garfinkel says you can change your sex but only by becoming ‘other’ Yes! 2 sexes but they are not invariant

Final ideas : 

Final ideas Are we dealing with the social construction of ideas or practices? How far do we take this thesis on male reproductive health promotion?