If you Google “masculinity” right now, you’d be forgiven for thinking that men are engaged in an epic battle over our very right to exist. “Masculinity isn’t a sickness,” the Wall Street Journal intones.
Who is behind this “dubious attack” on masculinity? It was a bit of a one-two punch, actually: Earlier this month, the American Psychological Association released new guidelines for working with men that highlighted a substantial body of research pointing to some of the harmful effects that the constricted enculturation of “traditional masculinity” have on men and the people around us. “Traits of so-called ‘traditional masculinity,’ like suppressing emotions & masking distress, often start early in life & have been linked to less willingness by boys & men to seek help, more risk-taking & aggression — possibly harming themselves & those with whom they interact,” the APA tweeted as part of the guideline announcement.
The new APA guidelines, which are designed for therapists working with men, suggest that clinicians be aware of their own gender bias so as to avoid misdiagnosis of male clients; be aware of the way racism, homophobia, and transphobia shape male identity, as well as stereotypes about marginalized men; and get out the message to men that “they’re adaptable, emotional and capable of engaging fully outside of rigid norms.” In short, the APA suggests that treating male clients will be more impactful if therapists factor in the documented risk factors associated with “traditional” masculinity (not seeking help, struggling with vulnerability) in their treatment, and broadly remember to factor in masculinity as a gender identity when assessing the needs of their male clients.
[For more on this story by Thomas Page McBee, go to https://www.vox.com/first-pers...te-ad-apa-guidelines]
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