By Mark DaCosta- In this, the final part of this series of articles, ideas, concepts, and questions that were introduced in previous installments will be addressed and closed. Those include the “Man Box” and its consequences, and the idea of a healthy approach to masculinity. Guyanese will agree that the problem of toxic masculinity exists in our country, and we need to address it because if we don’t, it will continue to erode our social fabric, and keep us in a state of unhappiness.
In Part IV of this series, it was noted that men who exhibited or embraced toxic masculinity could be said to exist in an unhealthy psychological prison that experts call a man box. Experts have advanced this idea from being just a qualitative descriptor to being a fifteen-point quantitative measurement of the intensity of toxic masculinity in any particular individual.
The idea of the Man Box originated in the 1980s. Researcher Paul Kivel and his colleagues at the Oakland Men’s Project in the United States, developed the “Act Like a Man Box” activity as a way to discuss how society tells men they ought to be.
The 15-item scale that was eventually developed by the researchers encompasses themes such as self-sufficiency, acting tough, physical attractiveness, rigid masculine gender roles, hypersexuality, and control. This measurement scale gave experts a valuable tool – an actual way to assign a numerical value to the toxic traits of men trapped in a Man Box. Researchers would most often – in the course of the numerous studies and surveys that have been conducted – ask a man his opinion on the following topics:
- A man shouldn’t have to do household chores.
- Men should use violence to get respect if necessary.
- A real man should have as many sexual partners as he can.
- A man who talks a lot about his worries, fears and problems shouldn’t really get respect.
- A gay guy is not a “real man.”
Researcher Gary Barker, Ph.D. said, “We have found a way to measure the concept of the ‘Man Box,’ which allows us to clearly see that when men embrace stereotypical ideas about manhood, they’re also more likely to harm the well-being of others, as well as impact their own health in adverse ways.”
Researchers found that men with high Man Box scores, that is, men who exhibited more toxic masculinity had very serious problems.
One of the many studies reported the following:
“Using data from more than 3,600 men ages 18-30 across three countries, this study found that higher Man Box Scale scores were associated with up to five times higher rates of verbal, online or physical bullying, as well as sexual harassment. Men with higher scores also were about twice as likely to experience depression or suicidal ideation.
“These findings highlight how detrimental harmful masculinities can be to the people who endorse them, as well as their peers, families and communities at large,” said lead author Amber Hill, Ph.D., fourth-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “It’s important to remember that individuals of all genders are influenced and impacted by the heteronormative society that we live in.”
And, thus, one may clearly recognise that the serious problem of toxic masculinity is prevalent in Guyana, and should be addressed.
Healthy, positive masculinity, the experts say, is the wise and productive alternative. About that subject, some researchers have written the following:
“Healthy or positive masculinity is not sexist. It does not discriminate against people that identify as a different gender or sexuality than the male, nor does it have an aversion to acknowledging emotions and vulnerability. Toxic masculinity on the other hand, fosters discrimination against anyone who does not fall into the realm of heterosexuality.”
In other words, in summary, a man who is exhibits healthy masculinity is sufficiently secure in own identity, such that, there is no need for him to attack other men, dominate or abuse women, become violent towards anyone, be sexually exploitative, feel sexually entitled, be neglectful of his own health, or otherwise engage in harmful behaviours. So, yes, there is such a thing as healthy masculinity, and Guyanese (men) should aspire towards that goal.
(Anyone who may need psychological or mental help may visit the Psychiatric Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where services are available free of cost).
