The picture of the difficulties experienced by people navigating gender norms is painted by the interplay of masculinity, suicide, prejudice, and discrimination within the maze of intergroup dynamics and societal expectations. There are some present studies exploring this complex network.
Coleman, Feigman, and Rosen used longitudinal data from the Add Health Longitudinal Study to begin an attempt to understand the impact of traditional masculinity on suicide rates. Their research revealed a surprising correlation: males who adhere to traditional masculine norms are more likely to end their lives by suicide. These rooted gender standards, which promote severe behavior and stigmatize emotional weakness, reinforce negative stereotypes and discourage people from getting help. This information emphasizes how critical it is to challenge inflexible gender norms and create spaces where people feel free to put their mental health first without worrying about criticism or retaliation.
In the meantime, River and Flood started a personal investigation into the mental environments of guys who are struggling with suicide ideas. Using personal interviews, they disclosed a disturbing story that comes from cultural norms surrounding masculinity. Social norms instill in children the belief that emotional weakness is associated with emotional vulnerability and that violent expressions of rage are heroic acts. Some see suicide as a way to express their masculinity because of this false viewpoint and social pressure to live up to manly standards. Their study made clear how important it is to clear up these damaging stereotypes and advance an understanding and empathy based society that values emotional openness and vulnerability.
The harmful effects of bias and discrimination are at the core of these studies. Conventional masculine standards foster negative views about emotional openness and vulnerability, which feed negative stereotypes and stigmatize asking for assistance. In addition, prejudiced attitudes make men more vulnerable, increasing their pain due to differences in access to mental health services and unfair treatment in educational environments.
Thus, I want to make a call to action for us to stand against traditional gender roles, embrace diversity, destroy restrictions around emotional expression, and push for gender-neutral laws. We can navigate the intersection of masculinity, suicide, prejudice, and discrimination toward a brighter, more compassionate future in which people of all genders feel empowered to prioritize their mental health and well-being by raising marginalized voices, advocating for progressive change, and producing an empathy and understanding culture.
References
Coleman, D., Feigelman, W., & Rosen, Z. (2020). Association of High Traditional Masculinity and Risk of Suicide Death: Secondary Analysis of the Add Health Study. JAMA psychiatry, 77(4), 435–437. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4702
Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (Eds.). (2016). Applied social psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems. SAGE Publications, Incorporated.
River, J., & Flood, M. (2021). Masculinities, emotions and men’s suicide. Sociology of Health & Illness, 43(4), 910-927.
Vandello, J. A., Bosson, J. K., Cohen, D., Burnaford, R. M., & Weaver, J. R. (2008). Precarious manhood. Journal of personality and social psychology, 95(6), 1325–1339. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012453
Van Doorn, G., Dye, J., & de Gracia, M. R. (2021). Daddy issues: Friends rather than fathers influence adult men’s hegemonic masculinity. Personality and Individual Differences, 171. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2020.110467