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Canadian Journal of Public Health =... Aug 2022The dominant discourse in literature often constructs heterosexual African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) masculinity as inherently problematic and in need of "correction,...
OBJECTIVES
The dominant discourse in literature often constructs heterosexual African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) masculinity as inherently problematic and in need of "correction, repair, or rescue." This discourse privileges hegemonic male standards and conceals the power relations that shape racialized masculinities. Our study of self-identified heterosexual ACB men and male youth examines how performative and perceptual attenuations of hegemonic masculinity can moderate social and behavioural vulnerabilities in the context of HIV prevention, transmission, and survival.
METHODS
We used descriptive qualitative methods informed by community-based participatory research. Individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 63 ACB men and male youth (aged 16 and above) residing in Ottawa, Canada, including community leaders, HIV service providers, and decision makers. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed with NVivo software. Member-checking, peer debriefing, and external audit ensured trustworthiness of data.
RESULTS
ACB men and male youth define masculinity by their ability to provide for, protect, love, and lead their families. Within ACB cultures, men demonstrate their masculinity through their traditional role as family breadwinners, and are expected to be strong, bold, and responsible. This positive view of masculinity is potentially beneficial to the well-being of ACB men and male youth, and challenges mainstream notions of Black masculinity as uncontrolled, risky, toxic, or even predatory.
CONCLUSION
A positive view of masculinity among ACB heterosexual men and youth could support future practice and policy interventions aimed at strengthening community responses to HIV and health.
Topics: Adolescent; Black People; Focus Groups; HIV Infections; Heterosexuality; Humans; Male; Masculinity
PubMed: 35290655
DOI: 10.17269/s41997-021-00596-3 -
Frontiers in Surgery 2021A 64-year-old female was admitted to our clinic with a 9-cm-sized adrenal mass. The patient's main symptom was hirsutism, which included thinning scalp hair and...
A 64-year-old female was admitted to our clinic with a 9-cm-sized adrenal mass. The patient's main symptom was hirsutism, which included thinning scalp hair and excessive hair growth over her torso and arms. Upon investigation, elevated values of testosterone, androsterone D4, and DHEA-S were found. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT and MRI scans revealed a heterogenous large mass (diameter 9 × 8.5 cm) with focal calcifications, necrotic areas, and a clear distinction from the adjacent structures. The patient underwent a right adrenalectomy. The histological examination of the tumor revealed a borderline adrenocortical oncocytoma. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course and was discharged on postoperative day 8. Similar cases reported in the literature are also being reviewed in this case report.
PubMed: 33829037
DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2021.646459 -
BMC Public Health Apr 2022In Australia, and throughout the world, it is evident that the mental health and wellbeing of young males aged 15-24, is not a priority. In Australia suicide is the...
In Australia, and throughout the world, it is evident that the mental health and wellbeing of young males aged 15-24, is not a priority. In Australia suicide is the leading cause of death in people aged 15-24 years and 75% are male (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian hospital statistics 2011-12, 2021). It is clear young males as well as those who identify as indigenous or LGBTIQ are at risk groups with respect to self arm and suicide (Drummond, MJN, et al. 2019). It is the transition period from adolescence to adluthood that is of particular concern. Often young males must pass through this phase of life with minimal guidance or direction and without a "safe space" where they can attain emotional support. Sport is a significant part of boys' and young males' lives and offers that "safe space". Sport can play a substantial role in protective mental health through socialization and engagement in a socially endorsed activity that seemingly has far more positive outcomes than negative ones. This research is underpinned by both quantitative and qualitative research with young males involved masculinised sporting clubs. Its aim is to provide insights into how we can create safe spaces for males and influence positive forms of masculinities that can enhance mental health promotion among young males. This mixed methods research explores issues around mental health in young males involved across two male dominated sporting codes in Australian (Australian football and cricket). Surveys and interviews with young males age 15-24 as well as parents, coaches and key stakeholders underpin this research. While the data is designed to assist in the development of educational resources for males to influence positive forms of masculinities that can enhance mental health promotion among young males involved in these sporting codes, this paper reports on the exploratory nature of the data and raises important issues emerging among young males with respect to mental health and the role of the sporting club.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Male; Australia; Health Promotion; Masculinity; Team Sports
PubMed: 35422019
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13200-1 -
Global Health, Science and Practice Feb 2022Evidence-based programs are needed to engage men and boys that encourage the transformation of concepts of masculinity that uphold patterns of intimate partner violence...
INTRODUCTION
Evidence-based programs are needed to engage men and boys that encourage the transformation of concepts of masculinity that uphold patterns of intimate partner violence (IPV). This study explores the constructs of masculinity and male gender norms surrounding sexual attitudes and IPV among men and boys living in Rakai, Uganda.
METHODS
Between April and August 2017, we conducted 38 interviews and 5 focus group discussions with men and boys aged 15 to 49 years and 4 focus groups with key stakeholders to understand how male use of violence is influenced by personal, community, and society-level concepts of masculinity. We adapted 2 constructs of masculinities, reputation and respectability, in the analysis to examine masculinities in relation to IPV in the rural Ugandan setting.
RESULTS
Findings suggest men and boys upheld 2 types of masculinities: respectability versus reputation. Masculine attributes related to respectability (referred to as "responsible men") included having a job, house, wife, and many children and taking care of family. Masculine attributes related to reputation (referred to as "cool men") included having sexual prowess, multiple sexual partners, and the resources to buy nice things. Both masculine norms were used to justify dominance over women and IPV. The divergence of masculinity was observed among youth and young adults who participated in a gender-transformative program, suggesting the effectiveness of the program.
DISCUSSION
The gender-transformative approach should provide men and boys a chance to reflect on dynamic, often conflicting, images of a man and should empower individuals to renegotiate and reconceptualize masculine norms. This critical reflection on masculinity, which resonates with men and boys, needs to be included when engaging men within HIV and IPV prevention programs.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Female; Humans; Intimate Partner Violence; Male; Masculinity; Men; Middle Aged; Sexual Partners; Uganda; Young Adult
PubMed: 35044929
DOI: 10.9745/GHSP-D-21-00137 -
Current Opinion in Psychology Apr 2023This article reviews recent research in masculinity studies, highlighting theoretical approaches and topical examinations of men's masculinity in relation to feminism.... (Review)
Review
This article reviews recent research in masculinity studies, highlighting theoretical approaches and topical examinations of men's masculinity in relation to feminism. It shows a historical shift from masculinity making to categorical interests of men. The first examines journals explicitly aligned with critical feminism, where men are viewed as the cause of women's harm. Journals only broadly aligned with feminism examine men with more variance, considering both privilege and harm. Journals not explicitly aligned with feminism make room for problems that men face, and how masculinity is shifting to be less problematic.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Masculinity; Feminism; Fellowships and Scholarships
PubMed: 37209624
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101583 -
International Journal For Equity in... Jul 2023Gender-transformative health interventions that involve men and boys are gaining global reach, adaptability to specific geographical, population and epidemiological...
Gender-transformative health interventions that involve men and boys are gaining global reach, adaptability to specific geographical, population and epidemiological contexts, public endorsement, and conceptual sophistication. However, the ways in which masculinities are conceptualised and operationalised in theory and practice across these interventions remains unclear. The purpose of this scoping review is to map intervention studies that conceptually grapple with masculinities and analyse: a) how the concept of masculinities is adapted and operationalised in gender-transformative interventions, with respect to intervention population and context, b) what the relationship between the concept of masculinities and its wider theoretical embedding is, and c) on which levels transformation can be observed when working with 'masculinities'.We conducted a search in APA Psych Articles, APA PsycINFO, and CINAHL via EBSCO, MedLine, PubMed, and Web of Sciences (December 2021) looking for peer-reviewed studies on gender-transformative health interventions which engaged with masculinities conceptually. There were no restrictions regarding language, publication date, or geography. Forty-two articles were included in this review. Our abductive analysis finds that 'hegemonic masculinities' is a central concept in almost all included studies. This shows how the concept is adaptable to a range of different intervention contexts. The review further identifies five theoretical approaches, that help operationalise masculinities on an analytical level: feminist framework, affect theory, critical pedagogy, theories of social change, and ecological approaches. Lastly, this review draws out six levels on which transformation can be observed in the intervention outcomes: relational level, symbolic level, material level, affective level, cognitive-behavioural level, and community-structural level. The discussion underlines that processes and practices of (gender) transformation also require engagement with theories of transformation more widely and advocates for theoretical pluralism. Lastly, implications for practice, including preventative, ecological and community-based care models, are drawn out.
Topics: Male; Humans; Masculinity; Men; Social Change
PubMed: 37501204
DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01955-x -
Social Science & Medicine (1982) Jan 2022Intimate partner violence is a global problem with devastating social and health consequences to individuals and families. While some forms of intimate partner violence...
Intimate partner violence is a global problem with devastating social and health consequences to individuals and families. While some forms of intimate partner violence such as physical and sexual violence have been explored in depth, there is a lack of clarity on men's perspectives of emotional violence, particularly in low-income countries. Yet it is recognized that incorporating men's perspectives and participation is crucial for addressing intimate partner violence. We draw from in-depth interviews with 30 men and 1, 645 pictures collected through photo voice to explore men's conceptualization and experiences of emotional violence by female partners in Mwanza, Tanzania. A sub-sample of the men (n = 16) were interviewed for a second time about pictures showing different aspects of their lives. The fieldwork was conducted between April and December 2019, and the data were analyzed through a multistage inductive process. Participants described emotional violence through a narrative of 'being hurt' by some actions or words of their partners. These included: verbal complaints about failure to provide for family, partner's infidelity and flirting with other men, accusation of poor sexual performance, and perceived normative deviance characterized by coming home late and not carrying out domestic chores. Threatened masculinities drawing from negative communal normative ideals, and the underlying interpersonal power struggles with their partners for the control of economic provision, sexual intimacy and family matters framed men's definitions of emotional violence. Ongoing changes such as women's ownership and engagement in economic activities and the scarcity of employment opportunities for men challenges their household dominance. Multicomponent interventions should target men, couples and communal ideals reinforcing negative masculinity. Analysis of interpersonal power and structural dynamics influencing relationships must inform the design of interventions instead of the narrow focus on individual demographic attributes.
Topics: Concept Formation; Emotional Abuse; Female; Humans; Intimate Partner Violence; Male; Masculinity; Sexual Partners; Tanzania
PubMed: 34861570
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114606 -
European Journal of Pharmaceutical... Nov 2023Oral contraceptives (OCs), insulin sensitizers, and antiandrogens (AAs), alone or in combination, are commonly used for treating non-fertility indications in polycystic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Oral contraceptives (OCs), insulin sensitizers, and antiandrogens (AAs), alone or in combination, are commonly used for treating non-fertility indications in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, unclear risk-benefit profiles jeopardize their appropriate clinical applications. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the effects of the aforementioned medications and to compare their risk-benefit profiles. Randomized controlled trials published until 14th March 2022 were searched in PubMed and Embase. A model-based meta-analysis was developed to examine the time-effect profiles of each medication. The maximal percentage change of the effect (E) and time to achieve half of E (T) were estimated. Primary outcomes included menstruation, hirsutism score, free androgen index (FAI), body mass index (BMI), insulin sensitivity, and lipid profiles. Overall, 200 studies (9,685 patients and 385 arms) were identified for modeling. OCs performed exceptionally well in improving menstruation (E: 149%; T: 7.44 weeks), hirsutism score (E: 66.2%; T: 26.2 weeks), and FAI (E: 75.7%; T: 0.51 weeks). However, OCs elevated the triglyceride (TG) level (E: 12.6%; T:1.19 weeks). After 12-week OC treatment, the TG level of approximately 30% of patients, whose baselines were normal, exceeded the reference limit. This suggested that OC-induced dyslipidemia should be routinely monitored. The maximal BMI-lowering effect of metformin was similar to that of placebo (E: 3.80%); however, metformin had a shorter T (6.67 weeks versus 12.9 weeks). Further, active lifestyle intervention plus placebo significantly decreased BMI (E: 8.78%). Adding metformin to active lifestyle intervention accelerated the BMI-lowering effect within 24 weeks, whereas with the extension of this addition beyond 24 weeks, BMI did not reduce further, which indicated that benefits were limited from this prolonged addition. AAs were less potent in reducing hirsutism score (E: 40.2% versus 66.2%) and FAI (E: 34.5% versus 75.7%) compared to OCs. OC plus metformin combined OC-derived androgen-suppressing effects and metformin-derived insulin-sensitizing effects, and partially relieved the OC-induced TG increase (E: 9.76%). Baseline dependency was found in most clinical responses, implying that pharmacotherapies tailored based on baselines achieved more clinical improvements. This study presents new quantitative evidence on pharmacotherapies for PCOS. Currently, long-term risk-benefit profiles and emerging therapies are inadequately reported and require more further research.
Topics: Humans; Female; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Contraceptives, Oral; Androgen Antagonists; Insulin; Hirsutism; Androgens; Metformin; Hypoglycemic Agents
PubMed: 37666459
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106577 -
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism... Jul 2023Endometrioid carcinomas of the ovary are a subtype of epithelial ovarian tumors, with sertoliform endometrioid carcinomas being a rare variant. We report a case of a...
SUMMARY
Endometrioid carcinomas of the ovary are a subtype of epithelial ovarian tumors, with sertoliform endometrioid carcinomas being a rare variant. We report a case of a previously healthy premenopausal woman presenting with androgenic symptoms in the form of hirsutism and male pattern alopecia. On further testing, she was found to have high levels of luteinizing hormone and total testosterone levels, and imaging revealed a large pelvic abdominal mass in the right ovary. She underwent total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Microscopy and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of sertoliform endometrioid carcinoma. Her symptoms improved significantly on follow-up. Androgenic tumors might not be common in premenopausal women; however, it is important to maintain a high level of suspicion in patients presenting with virilizing symptoms especially of rapid progression.
LEARNING POINTS
Our 47-year-old patient presented with virilizing symptoms that were rapidly progressing, which raises the suspicion of an underlying androgen secreting neoplasm. Sertoliform endometrioid carcinoma (SEC) is an extremely rare variant of endometrioid carcinomas and tend to present at an earlier stage as compared to most endometrioid carcinomas of the ovary. Recognition of SEC in virilizing patients is important as it is a well-differentiated, low-grade malignancy with a good prognosis when confined to the ovary.
PubMed: 37767716
DOI: 10.1530/EDM-23-0046 -
American Journal of Men's Health 2023Homophobia and biphobia negatively impact the mental health of gay, bisexual, trans, Two-Spirit, and queer men and non-binary individuals (GBT2Q) and sexual and gender...
Homophobia and biphobia negatively impact the mental health of gay, bisexual, trans, Two-Spirit, and queer men and non-binary individuals (GBT2Q) and sexual and gender minority men, but little is known about the impact of gender-related oppression. The current study examines the impact of pressure to conform to masculine norms in Canada-based GBT2Q individuals. Specifically, the associations between (a) gender expression and pressure to be masculine and (b) pressure to be masculine and depression, anxiety, and self-rated mental health were investigated. Drawing from an online national cross-sectional survey of 8,977 GBT2Q individuals and sexual and gender minority men living in Canada aged 15 years or older, 56.4% ( = 5,067) of respondents reported experiencing pressure to conform to masculine norms. Respondents were more likely to report masculine pressure if they were younger than 30 years, described their gender expression as fluid, identified their sexuality as queer, were an ethnoracial minority, and were trans. Pressure to be masculine was associated with increased odds of depression, anxiety, and reporting poor or fair mental health. The current study provides evidence of the detrimental impact of pressure to conform to masculine norms on the mental health of gay, bisexual, trans, Two-Spirit, and queer men and non-binary peoples.
Topics: Male; Humans; Masculinity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Bisexuality; Outcome Assessment, Health Care
PubMed: 37886907
DOI: 10.1177/15579883231206618