Masculinity and illness - men´s coping with cancer and their encounter with the healthcare system, a qualitative inquiry
The purpose of this article is with a gender perspective to illuminate how men cope with cancer and their encounter with the healthcare system. The hermeneutic-phenomenological analysis of interviews with cancer patients, illustrate different aspects of how men, who do not live up to the hegemonic masculinity ideal, cope with cancer. They do not neglect their health; on the contrary, they are outgoing and persistent despite their experiences of their problems being downplayed in the healthcare system. They talk about their feelings and are able to help other men in the same situation. The findings challenge the depiction of men as stoic and introverted when ill. The article contributes to raising a discussion among healthcare professionals on how their perceptions about gender roles may affect patients’ health behavior and how, by taking into account the significance of perceptions of gender roles, they can address the diverse ways in which men take care of their health and tackle illness.
Key words: Men, coping with cancer, gender theory, qualitative research, hermeneutic phenomenology