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Reflexivity denied? The emotional and health‐seeking resources of men facing disadvantage
Author(s) -
Simpson Paul,
Richards Michael
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
sociology of health and illness
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1467-9566
pISSN - 0141-9889
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9566.12869
Subject(s) - reflexivity , disadvantage , distancing , argument (complex analysis) , masculinity , social psychology , focus group , psychology , feeling , sociology , mental health , vulnerability (computing) , gender studies , medicine , psychotherapist , political science , disease , social science , computer security , covid-19 , pathology , anthropology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , computer science
Based on focus group discussions of self‐generated photographs of individuals aged 19–67 resident in urban Northwest England, this article examines the health narratives of men facing disadvantage because of economic hardship and/or mental health difficulty (mhd). In contrast to stereotypes of men as uncomfortable with emotions linked to vulnerability, we explore how such men can develop within self‐help groups the kind of emotional resources that encourage health‐seeking behaviours. Our argument contrasts with theories that risk denying/diminishing working‐class men's emotional reflexivity or that frame reflexivity (thought on feelings and behaviour to effect life changes) as individualised and more available to middle‐class (younger) men. We argue that participant accounts indicate development of more collective emotional and epistemic resources from a position of subordinated masculinity. This argument challenges stereotypes of working‐class men as lacking in knowledge/skill in health and self‐care. Collective reflexivity over health/wellbeing was particularly visible in three main accounts that emerged during focus groups: involvement in self‐help ‘communities of practice’, use of local aesthetic spaces and negotiation with/qualified challenge to healthy eating discourse.