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Gender » Men and Boys » Health and Social Care

Health and Social Care

Attitudes and Values

Research was undertaken by 'The Male Link' between Spring and Winter of 2000 to provide baseline feedback on men's views about themselves and the world they live in. 632 men took part in this survey and some of the results are as follows:

Most felt that they should be more proactive about attending to their health – nearly three-quarters felt that men's lives would be better if they looked after themselves more.
Respondents felt that men can care for children equally as well as women. This supports the general feeling against the statement that after separation / divorce children should always stay with their mother.
58% of men felt that family law upholds the rights of women more than men.
40% of respondents felt that the media portrays men in a negative way and almost two thirds believed that men are discriminated against on the basis of their sex.
While men generally supported the idea of being in a relationship, there was acknowledgement of some of the problems that this may bring
42% of men felt that women don't understand them
Over three quarters (77%) of respondents agreed that some men are abused by their partners
There was support for the idea that it is more difficult for men to take on traditional female roles than vice-versa and that there is pressure on men to behave in a certain way.
Despite being positive about their feelings, nearly two thirds of men agreed, to some extent that “sometimes you don't do things in case you fail”.
Respondents agreed that support was needed from other men, other fathers, and men's groups – as well as from religion.
There was strong agreement that support services are geared towards women

Respondent's supported the idea of being in touch with, and expressing their feelings:

Nearly 80% of men disagreed with the statement that real men don't cry
Almost the same amount agreed it is good to show your sensitive side
86% of respondents strongly agreed that talking about your feelings is okay
Health…is perceived by many men from an early age to be the domain of women
18% of Men thought a GUM Clinic dealt with dental problems
The average young man is unlikely to access any help or support at all if he has a problem. Instead he will manage on his own
It appears that they (men) are attending first for treatment and missing out on preventative healthcare
Suicide is now the single greatest cause of death amongst young men in most parts of the UK
Myths surround men's health, the greatest of which is that men do not care about their health

(Source: “No Man's Land” Dr Ian Banks from Men and Human Rights Papers from the All-Ireland Men's Seminar Belfast: October 5 th- 7 th 2001)

Access to Services

Men have difficulty accessing services because many find it difficult to ask for help.

There is a perception among men that the Health and Social Services are not for them and that they are geared specifically for women and children (for example posters depicting women and children and mothers in a caring role).

This perception is re-inforced by the physical make-up of doctors' surgeries/clinics and by the composition of the workforce (receptionists, nurses, health visitors, social workers) who are often female.

Health and Social Services Staff are predominantly women who have been influenced by stereotypical views of men and women (e.g. women are natural carers).

However, many men still prefer to see female staff as they perceive them to be more caring and sympathetic.

Some men perceive that Health and Social Services staff stereotype them and perhaps do not see them as individuals.

Men prefer to ask for help in an anonymous way, for example by lifting a leaflet, by phone or via the internet for example NHS Direct-on-line and the Samaritans.

Unless a service is targeted specifically at men they tend to assume it is not for them.

Information should be made accessible for men and services should be targeted at men so they are in no doubt that specific services are available for them for example:

Good Practice: Action Cancer's 'Action Man' campaign which highlighted testicular and prostate cancer using leaflets and other forms of advertising which are clear but also humorous

Men need to be targeted in different ways to women - for example :

Good Practice - 'Support in the Festive Season' produced by 'The Male Link'. This card listed all groups who could offer support i.e. name of organisation, area of work and contact number and ended with the strap line…

“because a 'Real Man' can ask for help!!!”

These were distributed throughout Northern Ireland during the festive season 2001.

Access to Services

Research undertaken in Northern Ireland showed that there were amazingly strong feelings in favour of giving men more support. Only one quarter of those questioned believed that men need less emotional support than women (30% of men, and 20% of women). Indeed 62% of respondents thought that men should spend more time talking about their feelings. There was consensus that the services that are in place to support women should also be extended to men. In fact, women were slightly more in favour of this than men. Specifically, respondents agreed that:

Clinics for expectant mothers should also give practical advice to fathers on caring for a baby;
It is a good idea for clinics and doctors' surgeries to provide a special clinic just for men where they can get check-ups, advice or health information;
There should be telephone helplines run by men, for men who need support and advice through difficult times like relationship breakdown, unemployment and bereavement;
There is a need for special counselling services for men who need longer-term help;
Courses should be widely available for violent men who want to do something about their behaviour.

(Source: Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey “Men's Life and Times”Research Update No.7 2001)

How Men Access the Services

Gender is an important factor determining the source of health information used.
Middle class men are more likely than working class men to access and respond to health promotion information from leaflets and advertising.
Attending a GP surgery can be a difficult decision for many men and they often find it male-unfriendly.
There are few male receptionists or practice nurses, so their first point of contact may be off-putting for those men with an ''embarrassing condition'' which may, nonetheless, be life threathening.
Men tend not to rely on the experience of their peers.
Boys are more often brought to the child health surveillance clinics by their female relatives rather than by males.
The average young man is unlikely to access any help or support at all if he has a problem.
Younger men are aware of issues like healthy eating and importance of fitness, but other health issues can be seen as irrelevant.
Young men may see GP attendances as 'whimpish”.
Young men from the lower socio-economic groups – are attending first for treatment and missing out on preventative health care.

(Source: Men and Human Rights, Papers from the All-Ireland Men's Seminar, Belfast: October 5 th - 7 th 2001 Article called “No Man's Land” Dr Ian Banks)

Checklist for Auditing the Accessibility of a Service to Men

Walls and Notice Boards

Are images of men displayed?

Are there leaflets, posters and other materials relevant to men available?

Leaflets, Posters and Brochures

Do the images and text say men are welcome here?

Are the leaflets addressed to men and women where the service involves children?

Accessing Men's Involvement

Are men involved as clients or patients in clinics, groups or education sessions you facilitate?
Are men actively and continually encouraged to participate?

Staff Attitudes

Do you relate differently to men and women clients/patients?

Do you feel more comfortable approaching women than men?

Do you assume men positively want to be involved?

Do you expect men will be interested in their children's health?

If a mother and father are present with a child, do you listen and talk to both of them?

Do you value his contribution?

Do you schedule your visits or appointments to suit both parents?

(Source: Robertson and Williams 1998.288 “Working with Men: A Theoretical Base for Meeting their Needs” Community Practitioner, Volume 71. No.9 pgs 286-288)

Support Networks and Communication

Despite recent progress men's groups and networks are a relatively new development and concept and men have not developed an ideology or social language to cope with the many social changes which have taken place in society. Men's social networks are not as developed as women's.

Women's groups over the past thirty years have developed at a much greater speed and are a much more cohesive, vocal and developed group.

Men do worry about their health but often feel unable to talk about it or seek help until it is too late.

Some men have difficulty verbalising and articulating their needs.

Some men feel acutely isolated and marginalised – especially those who are older, unemployed, widowed, separated from their children, few of these people know where to find support or are prepared to ask for it.

Some men have difficulties managing anger.

Many men have not developed the coping mechanisms to deal with losses like divorce, separation, bereavement or retirement.

Men do not have the same peer/external support mechanisms as women for coping with bereavement, emotional issues, abuse, stress, depression etc. This difficulty is compounded because they are not very experienced at disclosure or asking for help.

Men have a mixed reaction to support networks – some of which are positive and some are negative.

Below are a sample of some of the statements that men have made:

“The only support groups that I know of are for men with problems”

“There is not enough support available to men, and if there is - it should be better advertised”

“The support available for men needs to be promoted and made public”

“Men's Groups – I haven't heard of any, where are they? What are they?”

“Support groups e.g. bereavement, counselling, post-miscarriage are very much geared towards the woman – to the detriment of the male partner”

“Men's groups do exist, but they're often dressed in different ways e.g. rugby/soccer clubs and teams…”

Some other respondents saw the limitations or stigma attached to men's groups:

“There should be a need for men's groups, rather than just setting them up for the sake of it”

“Men's groups are useful in promoting male awareness, but can be seen as sissy”

“The term 'men's group' imparts a stigma. Why would a man join one? They're just what women do”

“It is probably very important to have more male support workers within men's help groups to help overcome the strong negative stigma”

“As men do not talk to each other about their true feelings in the same way as women, it is doubtful they would use support groups”

(Source: The Male Link, Men's Attitudes and Values Research. Prepared by Nuala Brady, Paula Devine, Shirley Ewart and Colin Fowler)