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First word: the trouble with men
Author(s) -
Kirby Roger
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
trends in urology and men's health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2044-3749
pISSN - 2044-3730
DOI - 10.1002/tre.175
Subject(s) - masculinity , element (criminal law) , patriarchy , vulnerability (computing) , power (physics) , femininity , fragility , weakness , hamlet (protein complex) , psychology , sociology , gender studies , social psychology , medicine , political science , law , computer science , computer security , physics , chemistry , quantum mechanics , anatomy , genetics , biology
Men die on average five years earlier than women. While part of the explanation for this so‐called ‘gender gap’ is genetic, another element is undoubtedly related to lifestyle, which in turn stems from elements of patriarchy, which still retains an influence in our society. Historically, one of the components that made up the successful man – in addition to those virile attributes of strength, power, authority and decisiveness – was health. Until recently, femininity was associated with notions of fragility (‘frailty thy name is woman’; Hamlet), vulnerability, sensitivity and weakness, and therefore masculinity was associated with health. This provides the best explanation for the observation that men remain reluctant to seek health care and lack awareness of their health needs, since to seek advice and admit to such needs would undermine their very maleness. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Interface Ltd