Male Perspective Research Articles

Access to maternal-child health and HIV services for women in North-Central Nigeria: A qualitative exploration of the male partner perspective.

BackgroundIn much of sub-Saharan Africa, male partners play influential roles in women's access to maternal-child healthcare, including prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services. We explored male partner perspectives on women’s access to maternal-child healthcare in North-Central Nigeria.MethodsThree focus groups were conducted with 30 men, purposefully-selected on the basis of being married, and rural or urban residence. Major themes explored were men’s maternal-child health knowledge, gender power dynamics in women’s access to healthcare, and peer support for pregnant and postpartum women. Data were manually analyzed using Grounded Theory, which involves constructing theories out of data collected, rather than applying pre-formed theories.ResultsMean participant age was 48.3 years, with 36.7% aged <40 years, 46.7% between 41 and 60 years, and 16.6% over 60 years old. Religious affiliation was self-reported; 60% of participants were Muslim and 40% were Christian. There was consensus on the acceptability of maternal-child health services and their importance for optimal maternal-infant outcomes. Citing underlying patriarchal norms, participants acknowledged that men had more influence in family health decision-making than women. However, positive interpersonal couple relationships were thought to facilitate equitable decision-making among couples. Financial constraints, male-unfriendly clinics and poor healthcare worker attitudes were major barriers to women’s access and male partner involvement. The provision of psychosocial and maternal peer support from trained women was deemed highly acceptable for both HIV-positive and HIV-negative women.ConclusionsStrategic engagement of community leaders, including traditional and religious leaders, is needed to address harmful norms and practices underlying gender inequity in health decision-making. Gender mainstreaming, where the needs and concerns of both men and women are considered, should be applied in maternal-child healthcare education and delivery. Clinic fee reductions or elimination can facilitate service access. Finally, professional organizations can do more to reinforce respectful maternity care among healthcare workers.

A male perspective of psychology from the Rainbow Nation

A male perspective of psychology from the Rainbow Nation

The male perspective: A mixed methods study of the impact, unmet needs and challenges of caring for women with breast cancer

Objectives As a formative investigation toward the development of a supportive care intervention for male caregivers, this study explored the emotional impact, unmet needs and challenges experienced by men when caring for a woman with breast cancer. Design A cross-sectional mixed methods study, with an online survey and interviews. Sample A total of 89 participants completed the survey, of whom 13 completed interviews. The majority (93%) of participants were husbands of care recipients; of the care recipients, 75% had early stage breast cancer and 45% were diagnosed over 5 years ago. Method Participants completed questionnaires assessing their emotional wellbeing, unmet needs and biopsychosocial challenges, with a sub-sample participating in subsequent interviews to elaborate on survey responses. Findings Emotional difficulty was reported by <25% of the sample, and 83% reported experiencing at least one unmet need (M = 81.5, SD = 33.2). Of the 39 biopsychosocial challenges presented, 100%, 86% and 73% reported “ever experiencing,” “currently experiencing,” and “ever needing help,” respectively. Interviewed participants echoed the most reported needs and challenges as changes to sex life, fear of recurrence and lack of practical information. Conclusions Male cancer caregivers experience diverse challenges and require psychological support and practical information using both online and offline approaches to support their caregiving responsibilities. Implications for Psychosocial Providers Healthcare professionals can support male caregivers by: being aware of their information and psycho-social needs; directing caregivers to online interventions for additional information; and facilitating the provision of online psycho-sexual and FCR support.

Heavy is the Head That Wears the Crown: Black Men's Perspective on Harmful Effects of Black Women's Hair Product Use and Breast Cancer Risk.

Racial disparities in breast cancer are well-documented, and Black women assume a disproportionate burden of breast cancer mortality. Black women also commonly use hair products containing endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) more often at an increased rate, as compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Emerging findings have reported the use of hair and other personal care products containing EDCs may contribute to breast cancer risk. While some sociocultural perspectives about hair and identity have been explored, the role of beauty expectations upheld by males has not been studied. Through a community-based participatory methodology, we explored perceptions and beliefs held by Black men regarding Black women’s hair, chemical exposures in hair products, and breast cancer risk. Focus groups and key informant interviews—among men with and without partners with a history of breast cancer—were used to examine the male perspective regarding the attractiveness of Black hairstyles, opinions of beauty norms, and knowledge of breast cancer risk factors. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed guided by grounded theory methods. From the 66 participants interviewed, there was general support for natural hairstyles, which were associated with confidence and self-esteem in women. Men agreed that beauty standards and societal pressures play notable roles in the women’s personal behaviors though they mostly lacked knowledge of women’s breast cancer risk related to EDCs found in personal care products. Participants suggested a multipronged strategy centered on community education involving social and traditional media campaigns, and the engagement of policy makers in intervention efforts.

The impact of practical aspects of communication and thinking skills formation on improving self-management skills in university students

Introduction. The universities around the world attach great importance to acquiring self-management skills for students while training at the university. Recent studies have proven that these skills have a major role in the development of human personality and academic competencies. Communication and thinking skills are considered to be one of the most important skills that have become taught and have been included in the curricula in almost all Saudi universities. This process involves both theoretical and practical aspects, aiming to provide the student with the necessary knowledge to deal with the other, to use new technologies, to be able to think positively, and to solve problems.The aim of the present research is to assess the impact of communication and thinking skills formation on the development of self-management skills among male and female students of the preparatory year in Northern Border University (Arar, Saudi Arabia).Methodology and research methods. In the course of the research, the survey method was applied. The survey received responses from 400 students of eight faculties from the Northern Border University (200 male and 200 female students). To draw comparisons between male and female students’ perspectives, the Student’s t-test was used. The research hypotheses were validated, and the obtained data were statistically processed.Results. The survey results indicate that there is a substantial difference in male and female student perspectives regarding the impact of communication and thinking skills. It was found out that male students had a much more positive perspective while considering its impact on self-development, on the development of successful social circles, and the ability to teamwork. On the other hand, according to the female students, the development of communication and thinking skills has a positive impact on problem-solving ability, mental ability, intellectual development, creative thinking, and practical life application or life realism of students.Scientific novelty. The present study confirms the importance of the implication of academic programmes aimed at students’ self-development; as such training programmes allow students to cope with the challenges of the era of technology and remote communication. In addition to training programmes directed to positive thinking in the light of the challenges facing the world such as terrorism, extremist ideology, and racism, this study comes as an important step towards enhancing self-development skills in the field of communication and human reasoning for undergraduate students.Practical significance. The authors formulated the recommendations to reform the system of particular educational services, to improve their quality due to the fastest, synchronous implementation of technological innovations and modern equipment, and to support teachers’ competencies at the proper level. The importance of media education development actualises the creation of academic programmes at universities for the training of qualified teachers in the field of specific education, especially for countries, which do not have the same experience of training, since media education is becoming compulsory in the contemporary world, increasingly affecting the formation of individuals, culture, and society. Several proposals have been made to promote further research in this direction.

The impact of practical aspects of communication and thinking skills formation on improving self-management skills in university students

Introduction. The universities around the world attach great importance to acquiring self-management skills for students while training at the university. Recent studies have proven that these skills have a major role in the development of human personality and academic competencies. Communication and thinking skills are considered to be one of the most important skills that have become taught and have been included in the curricula in almost all Saudi universities. This process involves both theoretical and practical aspects, aiming to provide the student with the necessary knowledge to deal with the other, to use new technologies, to be able to think positively, and to solve problems.The aim of the present research is to assess the impact of communication and thinking skills formation on the development of self-management skills among male and female students of the preparatory year in Northern Border University (Arar, Saudi Arabia).Methodology and research methods. In the course of the research, the survey method was applied. The survey received responses from 400 students of eight faculties from the Northern Border University (200 male and 200 female students). To draw comparisons between male and female students’ perspectives, the Student’s t-test was used. The research hypotheses were validated, and the obtained data were statistically processed.Results. The survey results indicate that there is a substantial difference in male and female student perspectives regarding the impact of communication and thinking skills. It was found out that male students had a much more positive perspective while considering its impact on self-development, on the development of successful social circles, and the ability to teamwork. On the other hand, according to the female students, the development of communication and thinking skills has a positive impact on problem-solving ability, mental ability, intellectual development, creative thinking, and practical life application or life realism of students.Scientific novelty. The present study confirms the importance of the implication of academic programmes aimed at students’ self-development; as such training programmes allow students to cope with the challenges of the era of technology and remote communication. In addition to training programmes directed to positive thinking in the light of the challenges facing the world such as terrorism, extremist ideology, and racism, this study comes as an important step towards enhancing self-development skills in the field of communication and human reasoning for undergraduate students.Practical significance. The authors formulated the recommendations to reform the system of particular educational services, to improve their quality due to the fastest, synchronous implementation of technological innovations and modern equipment, and to support teachers’ competencies at the proper level. The importance of media education development actualises the creation of academic programmes at universities for the training of qualified teachers in the field of specific education, especially for countries, which do not have the same experience of training, since media education is becoming compulsory in the contemporary world, increasingly affecting the formation of individuals, culture, and society. Several proposals have been made to promote further research in this direction.

Cost of mating in male Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

AbstractMating and reproduction not only provide benefits but can also incur substantial costs. An increasing number of recent studies have indicated that mate searching, mating, and ejaculate production requires large amount of energy which can result in high cost to males. Here, we examine the effect of number of matings of males and mating duration on mating and reproductive success in Menochilus sexmaculatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) by subjecting them to 3 consecutive matings of 30, 60, 90 min, and complete mating (a) with no interval and (b) with interval of 24 hr between the matings. The results reveal a reduction in reproductive performance for both the setup and reduction is more when mating is consecutive without gap. This shows that between subsequent matings males require time to recuperate the sperm/ejaculate. As a male engages in a greater number of matings, the time it takes to begin mating when paired with a female increases and the overall duration of mating decreases. However, frequent mating attempts made by males result in reduction in their body weight. Thus, in this ladybird beetle mating and related physiological process consume lots of energy and the body weight of males tend to decrease which further modifies their reproductive performance. The study helps us to identify the cost of mating from male's perspective and indicates that males need to rejuvenate between the matings.

Women Clerks and Typists in the British Foreign Office, 1920-1960: A Prosopographic Study

ABSTRACT The history of modern British foreign policy largely devolves from an exclusively male perspective. In many respects, this was natural and appropriate because, until the 1940s, only men held senior positions in the Diplomatic Service. During the early twentieth century, attempts to change the “Foreign Office mind” to promote a greater acceptance of the role of women in the conduct and formulation of British diplomacy remained largely resisted. However, when examining the careers of the other group of women who worked at the Foreign Office, the clerical staff, the vast ranks of filing clerks, and shorthand typists, a very different view of this bastion of male conservatism emerges. With prosopography and on-line genealogy resources, this analysis traces a large cross-section of these women and analyses their life patterns and working experiences. It reveals that many of these women enjoyed quite a flexible working experience, with plenty of opportunities for career advancement, with some even transferring from the clerical classes to the Consular Service. This exegesis represents the first attempt to use prosoprographic techniques in the study of British foreign policy and suggests other ways to expand the present study and other similar projects undertaken to examine other government departments concerned with foreign affairs.

Gender Specific Differences of Smallholder Farm Households Perspective of Food-Energy-Land Nexus Frameworks in Ethiopia

The water-energy-food security nexus concept is a widely recognized analytical approach to achieve sustainable development goals. However, to date, related thinking has mostly been applied at higher scales in a top-down manner, while bottom-up and local scale applications remain limited. This includes the gender dimension of the nexus, which is one of the sustainable development goals. Narrowing this gap, this paper describes and assesses the food-energy-land nexus from a smallholder farm household perspective in the context of rural Ethiopia through a gender-specific lens. To explore the differences between men and women perspective of the nexus, we adopted the Actors, Resources, Dynamics and Interactions (ARDI) to co-develop a mental model of the nexus concept combined with statistical analysis. Using this approach, we examined the key direct actors and the linkages between major resources including the processes that affect the management by gender. The results indicate that there are four aspects that differentiate male and female perspectives with respect to the water-energy-food nexus. These differences include (1) access to external actors, (2) perceptions of target resources, (3) gender specific productive roles, and (4) decision making with respect to target resource management and utilization, which may affect the dynamics and governance of the water-energy-food nexus. With regards to factors associated with time spent for collecting water and fuel and crop production vary according to gender type. Overlooking these differences could make the nexus approach unrealistic to achieve gender equity while further aggrevating the already burdening roles of women including children within households.

‘A Woman Will Never Become a Genuine Climber’: An Outline of the History of Polish Female’s Alpinism

Mountaineering has been traditionally and even in the contemporary world been considered a ‘male’ discipline. Female Polish mountaineers historically faced this stereotype. The paths the Polish women traveled from the discovery of the ‘Polish Alps’ – the Tatra Mountains – to the exploration of the highest mountains in the twentieth century and twenty-first century, were complicated. They had to struggle not only with adversities resulting from the social and political situations Poland, but also cultural challenges. This is strongly articulated in their attitudes towards the mountains, their fight for acceptance their independence in climbing, as well as their perspectives as well as their male peer's perspectives on women’s places in mountaineering. Despite the way being paved by Polish female climbers for the complete independence of women in the mountains, in the twenty-first century a veiled problem in remains in accepting their presence in competitive mountain climbing in Poland.

An Empirical Test of the Assumption that Female and Male Directors Contribute Different Perspectives

There is a substantial disbalance in the number of women versus men in leadership positions. Stereotypes about how women behave in such positions permeate popular discourse, yet little is known about whether and how female leaders are actually different from their male counterparts in their behavior, perspectives, and ideas—let alone how they shape important processes in their organizations. We investigate 110,221 statements made by directors during board meetings and unearth that women focus more on processual matters and that men are distinctly outcome-focused. The extent to which a diversity of female and male topics is discussed in turn increases the degree of monitoring by the board. Women thus do shape decision-making by focusing discussions on unique topics.

The great raced and gendered outdoors: white male spatiality in Alexander Payne's Nebraska and David Lynch's The Straight Story

ABSTRACT This study uses two U.S. films – Nebraska (2013) and The Straight Story (1999) – to examine the centrality and framing power of hegemonic white masculinity for common conceptions in the United States of the outdoors. While both white male filmmakers portray white men rendered vulnerable to outdoor extremes by advanced age, they also depict common white American male perspectives on geographical space, and on one's own supposedly appropriate role as a central actor in it, a phenomenon labelled ‘white male spatiality’. While Nebraska's central character remains ensnared in a damaging conception of land, himself and his relation to others, The Straight Story's protagonist demonstrates an approach to the outdoors that breaks free of self-serving appropriation, thereby promoting apprehension of others, land and the universe on something more like their own terms, as well as outdoor leisure practices that are more inclusive and reparative.

Representation of Women in Mizo History

For a very long time, the transformations that have taken place in the history of the Mizo is mainly derived from the writings of the colonizers and the Christian missionaries. The entire discourse which was dominated by the white male perspective was slightly altered when the natives began to write their own history. However, women writers were still absent. It was only in the last decade of the twentieth century that women began documenting their history. This paper is an attempt to look at the place of the Mizo women in the narrative through a span of a little more than a century and how they have been represented in the history making process. Women have not always been absent but have always had some sort of 'place' in the narratives. But even in the more modern historical writings, they have been depicted as mere subjects of history rather than actor or maker of history.

Windows into the house of Islam: Including women’s spaces

We ask which windows into the house of Islam we have traditionally looked through. Perspective determines which questions are asked to understand Islam. As with other fields, Islamic studies have had a focus on official religious texts, formal religious rituals, and public space, written mostly by male scholars. A balanced approach does not assume one normative subject, but views diversity as normative, including female as well as male perspectives. Looking at a few of the areas encountered through women’s standpoints, I ask what new insights they bring in understanding how the gospel meets both Muslim men and women. Other areas also invite our exploration, for a richer understanding of women and men in the Muslim world.

Gender as Perspective: The On-going Psychoanalytic Privilege of the Penis

ABSTRACT Psychoanalysis requires a rigorous assessment of the implications of gender in our theories and practice. There are two parts to this problem: one is a lack of recognition about gender and gender difference that has already been produced in psychoanalytic theorizing; the other is the insidious life of sexism on an unconscious level. I contend that current construction of psychoanalytic theories, particularly subjectivity, is marked by and depends upon profoundly problematic assumptions about gender, subjectivity, and knowledge itself. This problem might be reduced to an unacknowledged male perspective, or what I call masculinism. Masculinist perspective is an invisible lens that presents a wholly gendered and subjective experience as objective reality. A brief summary of a few feminist theories is presented, as well as speculation about the persistent resistance to gender discourse and a need to analyze that resistance. Most psychoanalytic theories fail to recognize this unconscious privilege of the penis which underlies our understanding of human nature and the impact it has on our lives.

P17 Health and Diabetes Perspectives of Mexican-Origin Males at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes (HD-MxOM): A Qualitative Study

<h3>Background</h3> The combination of rapid population growth and diabetes prevalence disparities convey an alarming health trajectory for the Hispanic population. Hispanics represent the largest minority group in the United States, with current trends expected to double the Hispanic population to 111 million by 2060. The prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics is 16.4%, second only to non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics hold the third highest prevalence of prediabetes at 31.7%. Furthermore, males of Mexican descent have the highest rates of diabetes (14.2%), overweight (80%) and obesity (43%) across all ethnic groups. <h3>Objective</h3> Explore the perspectives on diabetes, nutrition, and health among native Spanish-speaking, Mexican origin males at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). <h3>Study Design, Setting, Participants</h3> The present qualitative study utilized audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews of Spanish-speaking, Mexican-origin males, between the ages of 40 and 64 at risk for T2D. At risk for T2D was defined as >40 years of age, (BMI >27), and formal exercise less than 3 times per week. <h3>Measurable Outcome/Analysis</h3> Data collected included clinical (height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure) and demographic (time living in the US, marital status, employment, income, educational attainment, and physical activity). The audio data from the 15 participants were transcribed and underwent 3 cycle coding for categorization and thematic analysis. <h3>Results</h3> Barriers to health behavior among Mexican-origin males include: poor understanding of diabetes and nutrition knowledge, unreliable sources of health information, medical machismo, and socioeconomic status. Novel findings include perspectives of intense diabetes severity, personal responsibility for health, and sociocultural barriers such as pediatric health formation. <h3>Conclusions</h3> HD-MxOM represents the first, theory-based study for the exploration of diabetes perspectives among Mexican-origin males. The emergent themes include a poor understanding of diabetes and nutrition, inhibitory sociocultural forces such as medical machismo and valemadrismo, and low health prioritization. These findings provide educators and clinicians essential information for optimization of program development and clinical interaction with Hispanic men.

Configuración de identidades en contextos migratorios: indagación de prácticas cotidianas en peluquerías dominicanas en Santiago de Chile

El propósito de este artículo es aportar al campo de estudio sobre configuración de identidades en contextos migratorios, por medio de la búsqueda de prácticas cotidianas realizadas en las peluquerías en Santiago de Chile. Lo anterior se llevó a cabo a través de una indagación etnográfica durante 18 meses (años 2015 y 2016). Se obtuvo que el espacio de la peluquería se organiza en torno a las prácticas del alisado del cabello afro y el llamado brushing dominicano, las que, junto a maneras de usar la peluquería, generan pertenencia y, al mismo tiempo, diferencias y jerarquías entre mujeres, producidas en la interseccionalidad entre nacionalidad, género y “raza”. Desde la peluquería como intento de lugar propio, se generan disputas, resistencias y transacciones con el contexto local. Una limitación del presente artículo es no dar cuenta de la perspectiva masculina, de sus prácticas y concepciones respecto al trabajo de belleza del cuerpo.

Three sides to every story: Gender perspectives in energy transition pathways in Canada, Kenya and Spain

Transitions toward a low-carbon future are not only technical and economical, but also deeply social and gendered. The gendered nature of energy transitions is often implicit and unexplored. As a corrective, this paper explores energy pathways by applying concepts from innovations and gender studies. We examine gender perspectives and niche energy innovations which could disrupt the regime. The regime represents the mainstream pathway that includes the dominant gender perspective and energy system. We explore different gender perspectives of energy transition pathways by applying an Alternative Pathways framework that includes: (1) on-stream pathways that exist within the mainstream pathway to promote equal opportunities for women and men, as well as niches for energy innovations without challenging the high-carbon energy regime; (2) off-stream pathways that depart from the mainstream and promote differences across different genders while creating niches outside the energy regime; and (3) transformative pathways that are fundamentally different from the previous mainstream and includes all gender perspectives in a new energy regime. Applying this framing, in Canada, we explored Indigenous perspectives in the oil sands sector; in Kenya, we studied largescale renewable energy impacting Indigneous communities; in Spain, we evaluate the movement away from fossil fuels and towards renewable technologies. The framework helped to identify that mainstream pathways represented the dominant male perspective while woman's perspective were largely left out. Such absence generate energy pathways that are disconnected from local realities, lack public buy-in and slow-down a sustainable energy transition.

Teaching Social Justice Through 'Hip Hop and the Law'

This article queries whether it is possible to teach law students about social justice through a course on hip hop and its connection to and critique of the law. We argue, in these dedicated pages of the North Carolina Central Law Review, that yes, hip hop and the law offer an excellent opportunity to teach law students about social justice. But, why publish an article advocating that national law schools offer a legal education course on Hip Hop and the Law, or more specifically, Hip Hop & the American Constitution? Of what benefit might a course be that explores hip hop lyrics and hip hop artists’ critique of United States law and policy? In an era where bar passage rates are slipping across the nation and law schools are struggling to attract students to their hallways and classrooms, is there space and time in a law school curriculum to offer a class on hip hop and its critique of the law? I argue here that time and space must be created to offer law students an opportunity to embrace hip hop’s critique of the U.S. Constitution and its critique of the laws and policies that have always been developed, since the nation’s founding, from the top down — that is to say, developed from an elite, straight, wealthy white male perspective. Here is why: Hip hop music and culture have conquered the world. Born in New York City (the Bronx), this quintessential American cultural phenomenon has captured the hearts and minds of two generations of U.S. residents as well as enthusiasts across the globe. This hip hop takeover, ne revolution, is so recognized in literature and culture, that it bears no further explanation. Suffice it to say, that today, the U.S. law professoriate is infused with a stirring population of hip hop aficionados. Further, current law students are overwhelmingly individuals that know, love, and are deeply impacted by hip hop music, art, and culture. Additionally, hip hop music, at its core, offers a provocative critique of United States law, particularly the criminal justice system. This critique, offered from the bottom up — that is to say, from the perspective of those that have been historically oppressed and voiceless — presents a knowing appraisal of how the law as promulgated, practiced, and enforced in the United States harshly impacts and does positive injury to communities of color and people living in poverty in the United States. Today, more than ever, those that teach, enforce, and practice the law should be paying attention to the critique emanating from faces at the bottom of the well, particularly from hip hop faces. Further, this article seeks to contribute meaningfully to the existing literature and debate that considers and addresses the inclusion of race and inequality within the legal education landscape and law school curriculum.

Images, fantasy and violence: Woman in North Indian performance tradition svang

ABSTRACT The performative space of svang is primarily located within a prison house of male values, perspectives and judgments. In these performances, females are often revealed through male guts, literally and metaphorically, in their androgynous transformations wherein less of a woman and more of a man, they become a specimen of collective male consciousness on the stage. One important pattern of these representations is idealization of females as mothers/sisters and their devaluation as wife/beloved, revealing a significant ideological drive towards a dualistic image construction. The play of violence in these dramatic representations becomes manifest through a representational ideology, demarcating the feminine from the masculine in a set of attributes which become instrumental in constructing an on-stage image of females as unreliable and primitive. These popular dramatic representations constitute a space which largely remains in contrast to the practical and physically active world of the rural women and imagine a fantasy land where the male imagination cuts and fits females into fixed parameters of a make-believe world. Controlled and created by male imagination, watched by a male audience and often represented by males themselves, these representational spaces produce a curious impression of a group-controlled male fantasy in which females become a victim of a concerted psychological violence. The present paper seeks to dwell on the imaginative violence which is produced by these representations on the popular performative space of North India by focusing on examples from dramatic performances of svangs on the rural stages of North Indian states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.