Performing masculinity, influencing health: a qualitative mixed-methods study of young Spanish men

• DOI: 10.3402/gha.v6i0.21134
• Publication Date: 2013-09-16T15:49:09Z
• Authors: Jorge Marcos Marcos; Nuria Romo Avilés; María del Río Lozano; Juan Palomares Cu...; María del Mar Gar...
• Keywords: Male; Medical Subject Headings::Geographicals::Geographic Locations::Europe::Spain; Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::Perception::Body Image; Medical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::Humans; Young men; Social theory; gender; masculinity; men’s health; young men; social theory; health inequalities; qualitative research; 5. Gender equality; gender; masculinity; 10. No inequality; Medical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adolescent; Health inequalities; Medical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Human Activities::Automobile Driving; Medical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Social Sciences::Demography::Health Status::Health Status Disparities; Cluster: Gender and Health; Men; Medical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Men; Gender Studies, Public Health; Medical Subject Headings::Check Tags::Male; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; 0305 other medical science; Attitude to Health; Automobile Driving; Adolescent; Substance-Related Disorders; Sexual Behavior; Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Behavior::Social Behavior::Masculinity; Violence; Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Behavior::Sexual Behavior; social theory; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Qualitative research; Body Image; Humans; Masculinity; Medical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::Young Adult; Gender; health inequalities; Health Status Disparities; Medical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Social Sciences::Criminology::Crime::Violence; Spain; Medical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Attitude::Attitude to Health; Men's health; Medical Subject Headings::Health Care::Population Characteristics::Health::Men's Health; Medical Subject Headings::Diseases::Substance-Related Disorders; Men's Health; young men; men's health; qualitative research

The literature shows how gender mandates contribute to differences in exposure and vulnerability to certain health risk factors. This paper presents the results of a study developed in the south of Spain, where research aimed at understanding men from a gender perspective is still limited.The aim of this paper is to explore the lay perceptions and meanings ascribed to the idea of masculinity, identifying ways in which gender displays are related to health.The study is based on a mixed-methods data collection strategy typical of qualitative research. We performed a qualitative content analysis focused on manifest and latent content.Our analysis showed that the relationship between masculinity and health was mainly defined with regard to behavioural explanations with an evident performative meaning. With regard to issues such as driving, the use of recreational drugs, aggressive behaviour, sexuality, and body image, important connections were established between manhood acts and health outcomes. Different ways of understanding and performing the male identity also emerged from the results. The findings revealed the implications of these aspects in the processes of change in the identity codes of men and women.The study provides insights into how the category 'man' is highly dependent on collective practices and performative acts. Consideration of how males perform manhood acts might be required in guidance on the development of programmes and policies aimed at addressing gender inequalities in health in a particular local context.