Between Rocks and Hard Places

In studies on men s health, it has become commonplace§to claim that hegemonic masculinity is in profound§conflict with health-awareness and healthy lifestyle.§This book questions this assumption by critically§exploring how men discuss health, healthy lifestyle§and masculinity on the basis of interviews with§Finnish paper-mill workers. The study focuses on§conflicts and dilemmas within and between§constructions of healthiness and masculinity by§analyzing men s interview talk on self-rated health,§applicability of health information, men s health as§a societal phenomenon, and bedrocks of personal§healthy lifestyle. By shedding light on men s§increased health-awareness and interest in health§issues, the study challenges many of the prevailing§assumptions of research on men s health and§masculinities. As a conclusion, the study suggests§that a key feature of modern hegemonic masculinity is§asserting discursive competence in interaction for§managing varying meanings related to gender and§health. The book is useful and thought-provoking for§academics and health professionals dealing with men s§health, lay understanding of health and illness as§well as gender studies. In studies on men s health, it has become commonplace§to claim that hegemonic masculinity is in profound§conflict with health-awareness and healthy lifestyle.§This book questions this assumption by criticallyexploring how men discuss health, healthy lifestyle§and masculinity on the basis of interviews with§Finnish paper-mill workers. The study focuses on§conflicts and dilemmas within and between§constructions of healthiness and masculinity by§analyzing men s interview talk on self-rated health,§applicability of health information, men s health as§a societal phenomenon, and bedrocks of personal§healthy lifestyle. By shedding light on men s§increased health-awareness and interest in health§issues, the study challenges many of the prevailing§assumptions of research on men s health and§masculinities. As a conclusion, the study suggests§that a key feature of modern hegemonic masculinity is§asserting discursive competence in interaction for§managing varying meanings related to gender and§health. The book is useful and thought-provoking for§academics and health professionals dealing with men s§health, lay understanding of health and illness as§well as gender studies.