"Man Enough" to Care: Masculinity Threats as a Barrier to Men's Communal Role Engagement
Publisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction, presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
When considering ways to address issues of gender inequality, people typically think about the social and economic disadvantages faced by women compared to men. Remarkably fewer research efforts have been devoted to understanding why men remain underrepresented in female-dominated and communal roles. Informed by theories of precarious masculinity, this dissertation investigated how threats to masculinity contribute to the underrepresentation of men in communal roles in diverse contexts, including romantic relationships, the domestic sphere, and health promotion behaviors. Study 1 examined the impact of masculinity threats on men’s self-reported closeness, commitment, and interdependence with their romantic partners, as well as their cardiovascular reactivity to threats. Moving to the domestic sphere, Study 2A explored how threats to masculinity shape young men’s preferences for the division of domestic labor, and Study 2B examined how manhood threats impact the way fathers report the division of labor in their current families. Study 3 documented the impact of masculinity threats on men’s attitudes toward psychological help seeking behaviors, as well as their participation in health promotion behaviors. While the specific outcomes differ across studies, the predicted psychological process is similar: Experiencing a masculinity threat should lead men to engage in behaviors congruent with traditional masculinity. Ultimately, the findings did not support this prediction, but exploratory analyses highlight the importance of sexual orientation and individual differences in support for gender role ideologies in moderating the effect of masculinity threats.Type
textElectronic Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.Degree Level
doctoralDegree Program
Graduate CollegePsychology