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Masculinity In Sociology

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Masculinity In Sociology
SOCIOLOGY

ANALYSIS OF HEALTH WITH REGARDS TO GENDER IN MODERN SOCIETY.
The social institution I have chosen for this CIA is health. Health is defined as ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being’. Though it is mainly a biological issue, it is just as much a social issue in many aspects. Sociologists study health to understand how society works (as according to sociologists, health and illness is a result of the organisation of society) and how social forces have a chief impact on the well-being of people. For example, poor people die earlier than the rich as, among other factors, they may have less access to health care; poor housing or working conditions may cause illnesses.
The study of health related to gender …show more content…
A sociological perspective shows that this syndrome is a reasonably precise explanation of how our culture defines masculinity. In the past, health of men was considered to be unproblematic and they benefited from hegemonic masculinity (refers to the most dominant form of masculinity in society. In present times, this refers to white, healthy, wealthy, assertive men who portray a ‘macho’ persona). But in contemporary society, men seem to suffer in health due to the expectations and challenges of portraying masculinity. For example, in the UK, young men are pressured to portray masculinity by living a ‘laddish’ lifestyle, mostly consisting of engaging in activities such as rash driving, large consumption of alcohol, etc; which can prove to be quite dangerous and fatal. Statistics of morbidity and mortality show that early death among young men is mostly alcohol or drug …show more content…
Various explanations for this conclusion are that men tend to have various outlets to mask their depression or relieve their stress like drinking; some explain that role strain/conflict is a contributing factor, or even social factors like poor housing or class distinction. Another major factor is the pressure on women, mostly in developed, modern societies, to match the prevailing expectations of femininity and attractiveness. Media images portray almost exclusively thin and extremely attractive models and actresses which infuses an idea, especially among young women, that being thin is the epitome of attractiveness and failing to have such a body type can have damaging consequences on their mental health, causing feelings of low self esteem, distress, anxiety and
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