Citation

Stanistreet D. Int. J. Mens Health 2004; 4(3): 243-265.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Men's Studies Press)

DOI

10.3149/jmh.0403.243

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

To date there has been limited research examining constructs of masculinities among marginalised men and how this relates to health experience. This paper aims to contribute to the literature in this field by exploring the biographies of young men who died through opiate use as seen through the eyes of those closest to them. The paper reports the narratives of family and friends of the deceased and examines how their accounts describe the role of risk-taking behaviours and how these behaviours can be interpreted in relation to marginalised forms of masculinities. Themes identified include risk taking, emotional expression, unemployment, fatherhood, and peer identity. The impact of hegemonic masculinity on marginalised men appears to be integral to constructing and sustaining risk-taking and self-destructive masculinities. This implies that risk taking motivated by "protest masculinity" may only be reduced if population health promotion measures are taken to reduce the inequalities that exist between men.