Gender and disadvantage in health: Men's health for a change

Abstract

Women, typically, have been the focus for discussions of health inequalities in relation to gender. Now research on prostate illhealth turns attention to the neglected area of men's health and to men's disadvantage in health. Drawing on evidence of men's experiences and perspectives of their health, the complexities of the workings of gender in relation to health are explored, using current theorising around masculinities, hegemonic masculinity, negotiated gender and the disaggregation of gender from sex. Touching also on a range of other related issues including methodological ones, the discussion offers ideas towards better understanding of gender in relation to health disadvantage. In the context of the continuing concern about health inequalities, there is scope not only for documenting 'hidden' health disadvantage among men, but also for reviewing how health disadvantage by gender is framed and analysed; both are useful to inform health policy and practice.