A NSW analysis has found that traditional masculine behaviours are having toxic health effects on both men and their partners.
A NSW-government funded study has put the spotlight on men’s behaviours with the disturbing findings prompting the government to push for better behaviours.
The study in question was a state-specific analysis of the Jesuit Social Services Man Box research which showcased where traditional male stereotypes were having an impact on men’s behaviour.
“Having a better understanding of the influences men’s behaviours is really crucial for us getting to the heart of what is happening in the context of intimate partner violence,” Chair of the RACGP Specific Interest Abuse and Violence in Families group Dr Wei-May Su told The Medical Republic.
“When people who use these behaviours disclose it, it’s often to their general practitioner.
“It’s not to mental health services, general practitioners are often the person they may disclose to.
A disturbing trend shown in the study was how the correspondents that strongly agreed with traditional ‘rules’ were also more likely to commit acts of sexual violence and intimate partner violence.
The Minns Labor government has reacted with a new investment of $3.5 million to better support healthy behaviours in men.
The bulk of that investment – $2 million – will go to the Connect IRL Grants Program that aims to support vulnerable young people in offline environments to cultivate a greater sense of belonging.
Developing comprehensive education and awareness resources for parents and carers is where the remainder will be allocated, with materials focusing on understanding sexuality, gender norms and how to navigate pornography’s depictions of relationships.
Over 1200 men were surveyed, with headline findings including:
- Over one-third of men reported sexually harassing a woman in the past month, with 18% admitting to frequent harassment.
- Almost one third of respondents aged 18-30 indicated that they had perpetrated physical or sexual violence against a current or former partner, reinforcing that NSW has a significant problem with intimate partner violence.
- Violent pornography use was widespread, particularly, among those who strongly endorsed rigid masculine norms.
- Almost half (48%) of men reported feeling societal pressure to “act strong” even when scared or nervous.
- One in four agreed or strongly agreed that “men should use violence to get respect if necessary.”
- Approximately half of the men surveyed reported feeling social pressure to conform to “traditional masculine ideals”.
The study compiled “traditional masculine ideals” within the description of the ‘Man Box’, which refers to the “19 rules that represent a socially dominant form of masculinity.”
Respondents who strongly endorsed Man Box beliefs were 7.5 times more likely to perpetrate intimate partner violence and 10 times more likely to commit sexual violence against an intimate partner than men who rejected the Man Box beliefs.
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The respondents who endorsed the Man Box beliefs also reported poorer mental health, and higher rates of problem gambling and risky drinking.
“Nobody sets out to want to be a bad person that’s certainly not anyone’s goal in life, but it’s not always an easy process for them to develop different ways of behaving and responding which have better social consequences and health consequences for them,” Dr Su told TMR.
“For most general practitioners, when they are confronted within wanting to know what to do about how to respond, it’s not always an easy process to be supported in that pathway and knowing what to do is not just enough.
“GPs actually do need the real, pragmatic, structural supports about how to do that work, like they need enough time for that longitudinal relationship that they develop with the patient.”
