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Raewyn Connell: Hegemonic Masculinities, Gender and Male Health

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The Palgrave Handbook of Social Theory in Health, Illness and Medicine

Abstract

Males are one of the largest population groups of interest to health researchers. Male experiences of and attitudes towards health and illness are different to those of women. These differences have both a biological (sex) and social basis (gender). In Western societies, high rates of specific illnesses, such as heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer, depression, higher rates of physical injury (typically sustained at work or in motor vehicle accidents) and risk-behaviours, such as binge drinking, violence and drug taking, have been cited to indicate a relative lack of attention to or understanding of male health and well-being. The difference is usually articulated in terms of higher male death rates at all ages and higher rates of premature mortality. Also highlighted are lower rates of males using health services. In particular, a debate has emerged regarding the relative health disadvantage of males, with regard to its substance, causes and remedies.

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Authors
  1. John Scott
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sydney, Australia

    Fran Collyer (Associate Professor) (Associate Professor)

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© 2015 John Scott

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Scott, J. (2015). Raewyn Connell: Hegemonic Masculinities, Gender and Male Health. In: Collyer, F. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Social Theory in Health, Illness and Medicine. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137355621_34

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