ASS072-1 Essay: Analyzing the Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Men

This essay explores the significant impact of masculinity and gender stereotyping on men's health, highlighting how societal expectations and traditional gender roles contribute to both physical and psychological issues. It examines how the pressure to conform to masculine ideals can lead to men suppressing their emotions, avoiding seeking help for health problems, and engaging in risky behaviors. The essay also addresses the impact of gender stereotypes on mental health, including increased rates of depression and suicide among men. Furthermore, it discusses how these stereotypes can limit men's personal growth and contribute to health disparities. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need to challenge and dismantle harmful gender stereotypes to promote the well-being of men and boys, advocating for a more equitable and inclusive approach to healthcare that recognizes the diverse needs and experiences of all individuals. Desklib offers a range of resources for students studying gender and health.

GENDER

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Constructions of masculinity and gender stereotyping impacted on men's health......................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Gender refers to the attribute of women, men, boys and girls which are socially
developed. It describes the norms and behaviour of women and men or their relationship with
each other (Amin and et.al, 2018). Masculinity describes the behaviour and role for men and
boys in any society. Gender stereotypes are the belief in society which separates male and
females in many aspects. The aim of this essay is to evaluate the impact of masculinity and
gender stereotyping on men's health. The gender based stereotyping has crucial impact on health
of an individual. However usually these impacts are discussed and improved only in context of
females. The impact of these stereotypes on men’s health is often neglected. This report will
explore the theme that it is not only about women’s health instead men are also equally affected.
The study will explore both physical as well as psychological health of men being influenced by
masculinity and gender stereotypes.
MAIN BODY
Constructions of masculinity and gender stereotyping impacted on men's health
The first theme which is needs to be addressed as gender stereotyping is that these beliefs
have critical impact on physical health and life expectancy of men’s. They become more
vulnerable to life threatening diseases. Masculinity describes the social roles and behaviour of
male. It associates with the different characteristics and qualities of males. Showing masculinity
as an example which tells about the strength and power of men The average expectancy rate of
women is higher than that of men and social stereotyping is one of the key factors contributing in
this trend. Masculinity affect health of men in various aspects. From childhood men are taught
that they must not showcase their pain or tears as it is symbolising weakness and is associated
with feminism. It forces men to hide their emotions. There is constant psychological battle and
mental pressure on men that they need to suffer all issues alone because they cannot demand for
emotional or any kind of support. It often results in development of physical disorders such as
chronic disease which is result of excessive stress and emotional imbalance. It is one of the
reasons that men’s have low expectancy rate (Atkinson and Windett, 2019). Stereotypes reflects
the racial discrimination among the society. Gender stereotyping reflects the discrimination over

characteristics, attributes between the male and female. Gender stereotypes gives bad effect on
male and female's health, as well as it affects their personal and professional life. Gender
stereotype is the perception of the society they discriminate male and female on the basis of their
gender which directly impact their mental and physical health. At some places women are given
more advantages as compared to men therefore it also develops anxieties and depression in men
which can totally destroyed their moods (Gupta and et.al, 2019). For instance, whenever any
conflicts arise between men and women then by prejudice it is assumed that it must be fault of
men. In many circumstances men are even not allowed to present their view and are treated as
law breaker. It often makes them stressful situations and fearful that they can be easily targeted
or destroyed by females. It often results in loss of confidence in some males so they even suffer
from anxiety and other stress disorders.
It shows that health beliefs and behavioural factor in which male and females are engaged
that is the practice of feminist and masculinity. It shows that masculinity is to show maleness and
power in men which really hits hard on them. Because of this they feel depress and losing their
focus. It is found in some men they don't either bother to tell their feelings to others. They stay
lonely and depressed as masculinity really shatter their confidence. Men does not rely on other as
they live alone and don't share their thoughts and feelings to others. They have no one to share
with because of this they suffer mentally. Masculinity is becoming a problem for boys and for
men. For boys, they started losing their focus and separate themselves from everything, they
started behaving strangers with others which impact their mental as well as physical health.
Gender stereotyping is dangerous as it restricts the capacity and qualities of men and women. For
men, it is very harmful as it stops the growth of them also enables them to live in anxiety and
depression (Hart and et.al 2019). Like in certain cultures some skills such as cooking, dance or
art forms are associated with only feminine characters. Thus even if males want to learn such
skills they are often discouraged by their family members, colleagues and society.
Gender stereotyping is killing men by giving them physically and mentally pain. Report
suggests that old age men spent their whole life in anxieties and depression they failed to express
themselves which ultimately impacted their life therefore they usually die from heart attack and
strokes. Gender stereotyping begins from early ages men suffered a lot in old days too they
forced to do jobs and task which they don't want to or even they don't open up about their pain to
share with others. Gender stereotype is a violation of human rights as it criticizes the ability of

men and women. These social discrimination of men need to be stopped they too have rights to
live with their own self. Because of toxic masculinity and gender stereotype men are forced to
not share their pain with others studies suggests that women are more open related to their health
but man does not stand out their problems and suffers alone (Seidler and et.al 2018).
Gender role describes about how men and women behave, dress, speak according to their
assigned sex. Gender role suggests that man should be strong and healthy they won't be delicate
otherwise their existence worth nothing. Therefore, it becomes a perception that man should be
stronger and challenging as compared to women. This perception gives lifelong ache to them and
also affects their health mentally and physically as well (Heise and et.al 2019). Gender
stereotype is the unfair treatment for the person. It is usually predicted that women should be
emotional and dependent while for the men they are expected to be stronger and aggressive.
There is also a social belief that man only work outside they are not allowed to stay at home
during day time as they forced to play responsible role for their family. These stereotype need to
be stop so that it gives equal rights to both men and women and do not violate their human
rights. Because of this all the social norms the mortality of men is higher. Physical capabilities
vary from one person to other. Thus if any individual lacks confidence or physical strength then
they are often challenged about gender. It gives a strong hit on confidence level of male.
The societal belief for masculinity gives bad effect on men's health as they are unable to
speak up about their concerns with others. This societal taboo forced men to live according to
their community as if they want to wear something else they are not allowed to or if they suffer
from mental depression (Kahalon, Shnabel and Becker, 2018). These all social norms hardly hit
on men's health because of this they die earlier, also study suggests that men usually die of
mental health problem which gives physical pain to them therefore their mortality rate are higher
than women. Gender stereotyping also gives bad effect on male's health it tortured them or
forced them to suffer from mental trauma these beliefs also promotes bad habits in men.
Substance abuse and violent nature is also the result of masculinity and gender
stereotyping. It induces alcohol addictions and aggression in men because of either superiority or
inferiority complex. When men’s are not allowed to express their feelings openly or when they
are provoked that they can treat women in any way they want it leads to aggression and trauma
and to suppress such feelings men’s often choose to start drinking and consuming substance
abuse. Therefore, masculinity must not need to impose on men, and they too have right to live by

their own (Kaya and et.al, 2019). This stereotype and masculinity usually stops natural talent in
men from their childhood age they become more limited to themselves only and does not speak
about their suffering and pains.
Construction of masculinity and gender stereotyping are the social crime which are
continuing from early ages. These social beliefs have shattered the life of men it shattered their
way of thinking. Due to this stereotype men are taking risks and challenges which is destroying
their life (Pietraszkiewicz, Kaufmann and Formanowicz, 2017). They consume harmful
substance abuse product from their young age and also drives rashly which can cause life threat
fear to them. Masculinity and gender stereotyping are the crime which is committed by the
societal beliefs from long ago this need to be stopped for the development of men and boys
physically and both mentally (Ruane-McAteer and et.al 2019).
Gender stereotyping impact younger male they become the victim of domestic violence.
However, it is assumed that only women can be the victim of domestic violence. It makes it
more vulnerable for men who are tortured by women because they continued to suffer because
no one used to believe them. Even if someone believes them then instead of support they are
make fun of that despite being masculine how they can face domestic violence. Because of this
toxic gender stereotype the disease which only consider as heart attack and strokes doctors also
do not focus on other health issues in men as they also suffered from the depression but as
compared to women their depression can be easily detected. Because of this man are taking less
primary medical services as compared to women. They usually do not sick, but they die earlier
than women. Society also promote the masculinity therefore because of this man are not allowed
to show their emotions. They must have to show their stiff and stronger side they are not allowed
to cry. The health of male represented as a threat to masculinity as because male suffer from
cancer and chronic heart diseases because of their risky behaviour.
Due to such stereotype man takes risk as they consume substance abuse or started
drinking which cause their liver damage also develop mental and physical health issues in them.
Most of the men die from the depression and some attempt suicide as they fall in bad habit which
lead them to the negative direction also destroy their career which enable them to finish their life.
As compared to women men suffer from the depression most as because all the responsibilities
of their family and loved ones are on their shoulder, therefore it promotes them to finish their

life. Man dies more in accident as compared to women as they start rashly drive which cause
accident. Because of all this risk factor male are supposed to die more than compared to women.
Men health are threat to the masculinity as because of their drinking habit or consumption
of substance abuse can cause many problems in men's body as it affects their reproduction
system, because of this habit they become impotent and also lose their main reproductive
functions also lead to frequent urination which can damage their organs. Men does not seek for
the help they less talk about their illness. Gender stereotyping is the threat to men's health as it
causes many problems for the man it will be difficult for them to cope up with. Therefore, this
type of discrimination need to stop.
CONCLUSION
From the above essay it seems that masculinity and gender stereotyping impacted health
of men. It limits their development of natural talent and habits in them. Masculinity and gender
stereotyping violated the human rights of male and females. It shattered their mental health and
forced them to live according to the social belief. Therefore, these social crime need to be
stopped for the growth of men and give them right to lived according to them.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Amin, A. and et.al, 2018. Addressing gender socialization and masculinity norms among
adolescent boys: policy and programmatic implications. Journal of Adolescent Health.
62(3). pp.S3-S5.
Atkinson, M.L. and Windett, J.H., 2019. Gender stereotypes and the policy priorities of women
in congress.Political Behavior41(3).pp.769-789.
Gupta, G.R., and et.al, 2019. Gender equality and gender norms: framing the opportunities for
health.The Lancet,393(10190).pp.2550-2562.
Hart, C.G. And et.al 2019. Gender and health: Beyond binary categorical measurement.Journal
of health and social behavior.60(1).pp.101-118.
Heise, L., and et.al 2019. Gender inequality and restrictive gender norms: framing the challenges
to health.The Lancet.393(10189). pp.2440-2454.
Kahalon, R. Shnabel, N. and Becker, J.C., 2018. Positive stereotypes, negative outcomes:
Reminders of the positive components of complementary gender stereotypes impair
performance in counter‐stereotypical tasks.British Journal of Social Psychology.57(2).
pp.482-502.
Kaya, A., and et.al, 2019. The role of masculine norms and gender role conflict on prospective
well-being among men.Psychology of Men & Masculinities.20(1). p.142.
Pietraszkiewicz, A., Kaufmann, M. and Formanowicz, M.M., 2017. Masculinity ideology and
subjective well-being in a sample of Polish men and women.Polish Psychological
Bulletin.48(1). pp.79-86.
Ruane-McAteer, E., and et.al 2019. Interventions addressing men, masculinities and gender
equality in sexual and reproductive health and rights: an evidence and gap map and
systematic review of reviews.BMJ Global Health4(5).p.e001634.
Seidler, Z.E., and et.al 2018. Men’s mental health services: The case for a masculinities
model.The Journal of Men’s Studies26(1). pp.92-104.