Consuming men’s health: Risk, ritual and ambivalence in men’s lifestyle magazines

Robin Bunton, P. Crawshaw

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

In recent years Men’s Health has gained prominence on health promotion and public health agendas. This phenomenon can be attributed to a growing recognition that men experience significant inequalities in terms of health outcomes and is reflected in both the provision and uptake of services. Researchers and practitioners have concluded that men are the ‘weaker sex’ in terms of health (Sabo and Gordon 1995) and have attributed this to the problem of ‘masculinity’ as a gender identity as well as to their readiness to participate in ‘risky’ health behaviours and ignore preventative advice. Poor health among men can thus be seen as the result of attempts to consolidate masculine identities by developing risky lifestyles (Watson 1998). Masculinity, then, can be understood as a key risk factor associated with male experiences of health and illness; not only a risk factor in disease aetiology, but also as a definite barrier to developing consciousness about health and illness (Cameron and Bernades 1998). The emerging concern with men’s health is apparent in men’s consumption of health care and products and is reflected in consumption sites such as men’s lifestyle magazines. © 2002 Selection and editorial matter, Saras Henderson and Alan R. Petersen; individual chapters, the contributors.


Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConsuming Health
Subtitle of host publicationThe Commodification of Health Care
EditorsSara Henderson, Alan Petersen
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherRoutledge
Pages187-203
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9780203482162
ISBN (Print)9780415259491, 9780415259484
Publication statusPublished - 13 Dec 2001

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