Manhood across cultures

Problem

Masculinity remains a factor that is consequential in men’s health, well-being, and treatment of women and sexual minorities. However, no research prior to this project had qualitatively examined how men think about their own masculinity, and how these perceptions vary by culture. Are strict masculine expectations a uniquely American phenomena? Or is this something men also experience in more egalitarian countries such Denmark?

My role

• Developed the initial research idea and design

• Created the interview protocol

• Conducted all of the interviews in both English and Danish

• Transcribed the interviews and analyzed them using thematic analysis in MaxQDA

• Wrote up the results with my co-authors in a peer-reviewed article.

Method & Analysis

The study relied on a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews with 10 American men and 10 Danish men. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, analyzed and initially written up by me. The transcribed interviews were coded using MaxQDA and analyzed using thematic analysis. 

Results

• Results showed similarities in the men’s understanding of manhood (e.g., U.S. and Danish men both talked about manhood in terms of acting like an adult and protecting others). 

• The 2 groups also differed in important ways. The U.S. men described the need to show manhood through athleticism (what the male body “does”) and the rejection of femininity

• The Danish men, on the other hand, described the physical embodiment of manhood (what the male body “is”) and the importance of having a feminine side. 

• Furthermore, U.S. men contrasted manhood to womanhood whereas Danish men contrasted manhood to boyhood.