Men’s Perspectives on Their Grooming Practices and Appearance Concerns: A Mixed Methods Study

This mixed method study explores importance of and influences on men’s grooming behaviors and appearance concerns. Survey data from 83 men based in the United Kingdom showed high social media users engaged in significantly more grooming behaviors than low users. Gay men viewed grooming as significantly more important and implemented more grooming habits than straight men. Qualitative responses yielded themes relating to standards set by traditional media and the blurring of boundaries between traditional and new forms of (social) media. Themes reflected the freedom and constraints of sexuality in relation to grooming as well as the management of attraction and status. More research is needed to consider the impact grooming pressures and influences might have on men in the future.

Men, Capital and Hegemony: Male-Male Axis of Mappila Muslim Masculinities

This article explores how different forms of capital act in configuring power relations among differently positioned Mappila Muslim men. As such forms of capital as education and family status are influential in these relations, I consider ulama (religious scholars) and umara (community leaders) masculinities as analytical categories. While the former opens up access to non-hegemonic men to a rather hegemonic position upon accumulating religious knowledge, the latter restricts ascendancy to men from high-status families. Nevertheless, emergence of new elite men from non-hegemonic locations in the contemporary context of their upward social mobility challenges their hegemony, urging them to embody new forms of capital valued in the changing contexts.

“Gambling With My Cards Face Up”: Vulnerability as a Risky Act Among Men

This study examines men’s lived experiences of suppressing vulnerability in a conflict. These moments of suppression happened during conflicts with friends, romantic partners, or family members. A phronetic-iterative approach guided an in-depth analysis of 16 qualitative interviews to illuminate the social conditions and expectations that prevented men from verbally expressing vulnerability. Men made sense of their own and others’ suppression patterns by naming cultural, relational, and individual factors. We argue that the toxic culture of masculinity is constructed collectively, such that men’s communication creates and reinforces expectations of what it means to be “strong” men. Reshaping the current culture into a safe space for men to express emotions will require intentional efforts from both men and their support systems.

“Something You Just Don’t Talk About”: An Analysis of Teenage Boys’ Experiences of Non-Consensual Sexting in Lower Secondary School

The current study explores Swedish teenage boys’ exposure to non-consensual sexting, drawing on interviews with ninth-grade students, age 14 to 15 years, in a lower secondary school in northern Sweden. The results reveal that boys are exposed to unsolicited “dick pics,” unsolicited “female nudes” and non-consensual “explicit video” sharing via the social media platform Snapchat. However, traditional notions of heteronormativity and heterosexual masculinity prevented boys from talking about, understanding and handling experiences that may be identified as digital sexual harassment. Additionally, because of traditional gendered perceptions, students had difficulty categorizing victims and perpetrators of sexting. The study shows that there is a link between male vulnerability and male loneliness that can be manifested in both an individual and collective sense.

Teaching Gender Competency with Men in Mind: Foundations of an Online Training Program for Mental Health Practitioners

Recognition of the importance of mental health practitioners’ enactment of ‘gender competency’ when working with men is growing. This article describes the development and theoretical background to a novel online training program for practitioners, called Men in Mind. The training focuses on men’s gender socialization, engaging male clients in therapy, and responding effectively to men’s depression and suicidality. The content of the training was derived from a comprehensive review of available literature, structured into modules with measurable learning outcomes via learning design principles. The training employed a range of andragogic principles and tools (e.g., character vignettes, reflective exercises). Plans for evaluation via a controlled trial, alongside scaling, and implementation are described.

Addressing Determinants of Paternal Subjective Well-Being Through Fatherhood Education

Fatherhood education promotes responsible father involvement, which supports family well-being. However, research is lacking relative to the impact of these programs on paternal subjective well-being. Using Andersen’s Behavioral Model, this study examines the impact of a fatherhood education program on participants’ perceptions of social support and self-reported mental health. Upon program completion, participants reported higher levels of perceived social support, and lower levels of depression and anxiety. Bi-directional associations between social support and paternal mental health were noted. Multivariate analyses revealed the characteristics of fathers who might benefit from post-program interventions that focus on building stronger social support systems and addressing mental health needs.

The Dad Bod: An Impossible Body?

The term “Dad Bod” first emerged in a 2015 article by college student Pearson and initially described a young male physique that balances fat and muscle and also connotes a relaxed lifestyle involving ample amounts of beer and pizza. The term has since gained in popularity and entered the household lexicon, often in relation to early-middle-aged men. Using Scott’s theory of “performative regulation” and digital articles from men’s health and fitness magazines, blogs, and other popular media outlets, this article examines connections between the Dad Bod and female sexual desire, health, well-being, men’s body positivity, and masculinity. The Dad Bod speaks to profound tensions in neoliberal society which men navigate in a range of ways by ignoring, resisting, and/or embodying this identity.

Transitions Into and Out of Work: Stay-at-Home Fathers’ Thoughts and Feelings: A Brief Report

This qualitative study explored how stay-at-home fathers (SAHFs) think and feel about transitioning back into paid employment. Findings from a thematic analysis on interviews with 21 SAHFs in the United Kingdom revealed that many of the SAHFs expected to return to work. However, most of the fathers suggested that this would be part-time, or self-employment, which would allow them to remain highly involved in caregiving, representing their commitment to moving away from the traditional gender roles that are largely evident in parenting. Some fathers expressed a desire to return to the paid workforce whilst others showed apprehension, indicating tensions over negotiating work and care. These findings have practical implications for fathers who are highly involved in caregiving.

#MeToo or #MenToo? Expressions of Backlash and Masculinity Politics in the #MeToo Era

Since #MeToo took the Internet by storm in 2017, it has had transnational social and legal ramifications. However, there has been little research on the repercussions of this movement for the ways in which masculinity has been politicized as questions around its meaning and place in gender relations were brought to the forefront of public discussions. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from two Western Anglophone men’s groups, one embracing and one opposing feminist ideas. Our findings demonstrate a qualitative shift in contemporary expressions of “backlash” and “masculinity politics” in the #MeToo era compared to their initial formulations in the wake of the women’s and men’s movements of the 1960s to 1980s, shaped by novel tropes and tactics.

A Men’s Survey: Exploring Well-Being, Healthy Relationships and Violence Prevention

The participation of men is critical to preventing domestic violence, however, there is still little understanding of the capacities and supports that men need for well-being and healthy relationships. A men’s survey was designed to explore and identify the capacities and resources required by a diverse population of Canadian men. Data was collected on-line and through trained community-based research assistants. Over 2,000 men from 20 ethno-cultural groups responded, and multiple challenges and enablers were identified. Responses from Indigenous and African Canadian men highlight the need for an intersectional lens in understanding men’s well-being and violence prevention.