Poetry, Masculinities, and Disability

Abstract

All persons with new disabilities must grieve and mourn aspects of their own identity, and engage in the process of re-authoring and developing new conceptions of self and living. This is particularly true for men whose identities are often anchored by traditional conceptions and traits of hegemonic masculinity, which often make seeking and receiving help difficult for many men. As an alternative to traditional methods of talk therapy, the expressive arts and expressive arts therapies have been important in helping people with disabilities increase their social inclusion and overall wellness. While poetry therapy has been frequently utilized with men, little has been written about working with men as men in poetry therapy. This research incorporates gender and masculinity studies to support the therapeutic possibility that men who have experienced disabling conditions may develop positive conceptions of themselves as men via means of self-expression that go beyond traditional therapy.