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Issues for a Psychology of Men's Health

University of Newcastle, Australia

R Glynn Owens

University of Auckland, New Zealand

This article argues for a gendered psychology of men's health. We argue that capitalism and patriarchy, through their reliance on a restrictive definition of masculinity, limit men's choices and impact on their health. A psychology of men's health situates men in their social, cultural and political contexts, addressing the social construction of masculinities and the effects of beliefs about appropriate behaviour on men's health. At the individual level, gender roles can explain men's reluctance to seek help; avoidance of emotional expression; unsafe sexual behaviours; and risk-taking including drug use, crime and dangerous sports. At a social level, identification of the self with paid work, and avoidance of family activities, are problematic. Dominant social discourses position these as freely chosen behaviours, implicitly blaming individual men for risky or antisocial choices; there is little awareness of the role of social constructions in men's choices. A gendered psychology of men's health uses of a variety of epistemologies, focuses on health in its broadest sense, considers the context and is sensitive to cultural diversity.

Key Words: crime • fathers • gender • men's health • risk-taking

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