The Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health in partnership with the UNU Gender and Health Hub co-present Masculinities and Health: Relational and Intersectional Perspectives.
The global discussion about men’s health has often been about mortality and morbidities relative to women – men’s shorter life expectancies and men’s overrepresentation in key Global Burden of Diseases categories. While it is necessary to call attention to ways that men’s health has been ignored or not seen in a gendered perspective, too often these conversations become about men’s health versus women’s health. Numerous activists and researchers have increasingly turned to intersectional and relational perspectives in understanding not only men’s health, but also masculinities and health. These perspectives call us to look at how male-identified individuals of specific backgrounds – low-income, in historically marginalised ethnic groups, refugee/displaced or imprisoned men, men of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities – face specific vulnerabilities. These perspectives also call attention to the way that masculinities – referring both to prevalent social norms as well as power dynamics – shape health vulnerabilities and access for all individuals. Finally, these perspectives also shed light on how the health outcomes of male-identified individuals are affected by the health of their partners, and how men’s health impacts the health of their partners, particularly female partners who experience numerous vulnerabilities related to the poor health of their male partners.
In this discussion, we’ll explore topics such as including men’s health in the public health system in Brazil, research on the health needs and perspectives of low-income men of color in the US, and perspectives from a global campaign – Movember – to change narratives on men’s health.
The conversation will focus on thinking about health through an intersectional and relational masculinities lens, seeking to move beyond frequent zero-sum or oppositional discussions.
How to register
Watch the recording at In Conversation with Gary Barker | Masculinities & Health: Relational & Intersectional Perspectives - YouTube