The Construction of Masculinity and the Triad of Men's Violence

Introduction

In this paper, we have to discuss the statement of Michel Kaufmann regarding masculinity. He argued that “masculinity is an ideological construct that works against the best interest of men.” the paper described the above given statement in the context of writings of Kaufmann and other theorists as well.

Tracing the Triad of Male Violence

Society is organized on the principle of the powerful and the powerless, the active and passive, the male and the female. This basic structure is reproduced in all facets of society. In men's aggression against women: “Like a ritualized acting out of our social relations of power”.

To understand the implications of male socialization has helped Kaufmann in understanding the concept of man as a risk factor as an axis in the work on masculinity, social construction and how that affects the lives of women. Returning to the "triad of violence" which proposed by Michael Kaufmann (1989), the male may be a risk factor in at least three senses. This is a critical approach that shows the various forms of damage:

Against women (and children) through the various types of violence and abuse, fertility imposed, absent fatherhood.

Among men, by accident, homicide, injuries.

And the man himself, by suicide, alcoholism and other addictions, and psychosomatic illnesses. We include here the various forms of neglect of the body (Kaufman, 90).

He also emphasizes the great differences in violent deaths by matching homicides, accidents and suicides, being with rates of 6 to almost 9 times higher (depending on age group) than women. The absence of the man, his invisibility, has to do with the ways which structures the male gender identity and its contents, not only at individual or collective, but also of their own health services. There is a belief that "sexuality of men is instinctive and therefore is controlled" and therefore, of little use trying to socialize men in preventive behaviors through health services.

This is strengthened by the difficulties of men to verbalize their health needs. Men generally do not talk about their health problems, because it would constitute a demonstration of weakness, of feminization against others. This reflects a feminization of the notion of health care. The image that men have of health services, according to a recent study, is that they are for old people, women, children or sick. The men believe that they do not fall into any of those categories, therefore, they are different.

Social Context

The lack of emotional intelligence is often the background of addiction and violence with the consequent negative impact on reproduction, sexuality and relationships and family finances. We see this sort of problems generated during the early processes of socialization. The issue of violence is one of the central relationships between masculinity and health, the enormous impact that violence has on the health of both men and women. The perspective of the social construction of masculinity offers new interpretations of this phenomenon, constructed from the expectations of authority and service by the women and both gross ...