Understanding Masculine Gender Roles
Each society has its own rules about what’s considered appropriate behavior for men and women. In Western societies, men have traditionally been expected to be self-reliant, not emotional (except with regard to the expression of anger), confident and strong. This is the traditional masculine gender role. Men differ in the extent to which they follow these rules. However, some of these rules go against basic and normal human responses to stress. So it’s not surprising that a number of studies have shown that men who try to strictly adhere to these rules and who fear violating these rules may be at risk for a wide range of negative outcomes including PTSD. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts
Problems Linked to Male Gender Role Stress
Men experiencing male gender role stress are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, problems controlling aggressive behavior and alcohol abuse. For example, men who fear violating male gender role norms may be less likely to talk about or express their emotions, especially with regard to emotions that could make them appear vulnerable, such as sadness or anxiety.
Male Gender Role Stress and PTSD
High male gender role stress may even contribute to PTSD. A couple of studies have found that male gender role stress is related to the experience of more severe PTSD symptoms. Here’s how:
It’s thought that male gender role stress may prevent men from seeking out the help they need following the experience of a traumatic event, increasing the likelihood of developing PTSD. In addition, the use of alcohol or other unhealthy coping strategies (such as emotional avoidance) among men experiencing male gender stress following a traumatic event may prevent them from adequately processing emotions associated with the event.
Getting Help
If you are a man who has experienced a traumatic event, it’s important to know that emotions such as anxiety, fear, sadness, guilt or anger are common emotions that occur after a traumatic event. They are not a sign of weakness or a reason to feel shame because you’re not following the traditional masculine gender role. When seeking out help for the experience of a traumatic event, it’s important to be a consumer. If you notice that you experience high levels of male gender role stress, you may want to seek out a therapist to whom you feel comfortable expressing your emotions. Finding a mental health provider can be an overwhelming and stressful task if you do not know where to look. Fortunately, there are several websites that provide free search engines that can help you find mental health providers in your area who treat PTSD.
