Men's Health
Body, Identity and Social Context
February 2009
232 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-0-470-51656-0
John Wiley & Sons
This book explores the social, political and theoretical underpinnings of the men's health field. Written by experts in the field, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the relationships between cultural understandings and health-related issues. It looks at important issues such as prostate cancer, chest pain and heart disease and how men experience such problems. It examines sexuality, mental illness and ethnicity as well as the role that sport can play in men's health outcomes.
List of Illustrations
Introduction: Men's health in context
Introduction
Outline of the book
References
Chapter 1: Theorising Masculinity and Men's Health
Introduction
Health and the Social Construction of Gender
Theorising Masculinity in the Context of Health
Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 2: Positioning prostate cancer as the problematicthird testicle
Introduction
A word about style
Moving into Prostate Cancer
Moving through Prostate Cancer
Moving out from Prostate Cancer
Recommendations and conclusion
Author note
Acknowledgements
References
Chapter 3: Men, masculinity and help-seekingbehaviour
Introduction
Are men more reluctant to seek help than women, or is it just amyth?
Gender Role Socialisation and Help-seeking Behaviour
Help-seeking vis-...-vis the social construction ofhegemonic masculinity
Masculinities, Identity, and Help-seeking Behaviour
Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 4: Gender and psychosocial adaptation after acoronary event: a relational analysis
Introduction
Method
Living in denial
Coping with diagnosis, treatment and recovery
Reconstructing gender identity during extended recovery
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Spectacular risk, public health and thetechnological mediation of the sexual practices
of gay men
Introduction
Spectacular risk and public health
Measuring and explaining risky behaviour
Technologically mediated sexual cultures
Public health after 'barebacking'
Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 6: Young men, masculinity and alcohol
Introduction
Young men's alcohol consumption
Influences on young men's drinking
The importance of masculinity 201
Recent qualitative research into masculinity and alcoholconsumption
Quantitative analysis of links between masculinity and alcohol -beliefs and behaviour
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 7: Men's Mental Health
Introduction
Rates of mental disorders
The social constructionist perspective
Over and under-achievement as a male mental health syndrome
Men, warfare and mental health
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Sport, health and steroids: Paradox, contradictionor ethical self-formation
Introduction
Sport and Health as Paradox
From Paradox to Moral and Ethical Performance
Bodybuilding as Ethical Practice and Performance
Physical Growth and Personal Transformation in Bodybuilding
Dedication and the use of time
Health as Distinction
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Racialised masculinities and the health ofimmigrant and refugee men
Introduction
The New Men's Health
The health disparities literature in relation to race andethnicity
Marginalised masculinities and men's health
Immigrant and refugee men in Australia
The social context of immigrant and refugee men'shealth
Gender issues facing immigrant and refugee men
Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: Future research agenda in men'shealth
Introduction
Some guiding assumptions in research
Dualistic thought
The dominance of biomedical conceptions of health
Developing new perspectives on men's health andillness
References
Introduction: Men's health in context
Introduction
Outline of the book
References
Chapter 1: Theorising Masculinity and Men's Health
Introduction
Health and the Social Construction of Gender
Theorising Masculinity in the Context of Health
Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 2: Positioning prostate cancer as the problematicthird testicle
Introduction
A word about style
Moving into Prostate Cancer
Moving through Prostate Cancer
Moving out from Prostate Cancer
Recommendations and conclusion
Author note
Acknowledgements
References
Chapter 3: Men, masculinity and help-seekingbehaviour
Introduction
Are men more reluctant to seek help than women, or is it just amyth?
Gender Role Socialisation and Help-seeking Behaviour
Help-seeking vis-...-vis the social construction ofhegemonic masculinity
Masculinities, Identity, and Help-seeking Behaviour
Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 4: Gender and psychosocial adaptation after acoronary event: a relational analysis
Introduction
Method
Living in denial
Coping with diagnosis, treatment and recovery
Reconstructing gender identity during extended recovery
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Spectacular risk, public health and thetechnological mediation of the sexual practices
of gay men
Introduction
Spectacular risk and public health
Measuring and explaining risky behaviour
Technologically mediated sexual cultures
Public health after 'barebacking'
Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
Chapter 6: Young men, masculinity and alcohol
Introduction
Young men's alcohol consumption
Influences on young men's drinking
The importance of masculinity 201
Recent qualitative research into masculinity and alcoholconsumption
Quantitative analysis of links between masculinity and alcohol -beliefs and behaviour
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 7: Men's Mental Health
Introduction
Rates of mental disorders
The social constructionist perspective
Over and under-achievement as a male mental health syndrome
Men, warfare and mental health
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Sport, health and steroids: Paradox, contradictionor ethical self-formation
Introduction
Sport and Health as Paradox
From Paradox to Moral and Ethical Performance
Bodybuilding as Ethical Practice and Performance
Physical Growth and Personal Transformation in Bodybuilding
Dedication and the use of time
Health as Distinction
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Racialised masculinities and the health ofimmigrant and refugee men
Introduction
The New Men's Health
The health disparities literature in relation to race andethnicity
Marginalised masculinities and men's health
Immigrant and refugee men in Australia
The social context of immigrant and refugee men'shealth
Gender issues facing immigrant and refugee men
Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: Future research agenda in men'shealth
Introduction
Some guiding assumptions in research
Dualistic thought
The dominance of biomedical conceptions of health
Developing new perspectives on men's health andillness
References
"For those specifically engaged in sociological work around gender
(and/or masculinities) and health the book provides an excellent
collection of recent, high quality, empirical and theoretically
informed pieces." (Sociology of Health & Illness, 2011)
"This is, however, a provocative, important resource on men's
health for all academic audiences, especially those interested in
gender studies and health care." (CHOICE, March 2010)
(and/or masculinities) and health the book provides an excellent
collection of recent, high quality, empirical and theoretically
informed pieces." (Sociology of Health & Illness, 2011)
"This is, however, a provocative, important resource on men's
health for all academic audiences, especially those interested in
gender studies and health care." (CHOICE, March 2010)
Alex Broom is Professor of Sociology at the University of New South Wales, Australia. He is the co-editor of Health, Culture and Religion in South Asia; Men's Health: Body, Identity and Social Context; and Gender and Masculinities: Histories, Texts and Practices in India and Sri Lanka. He is the co-author of Therapeutic Pluralism: Exploring the Experiences of Cancer Patients and Professionals. Professor Jon Adams is at the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Australia.