The American Psychological Association (APA) newly introduced a guideline for clinicians who treat boys and men so as to better steer men in therapy towards healthier behaviors.
It is important that clinicians are aware of their personal biases and assumptions when handling cases. The guideline provides standards to be followed when understanding how being a man can impact one’s life experiences and well-being. Harsh cultural expectations may be the source of their problems and could be exacerbated if therapists hold the same belief of ‘traditional masculinity’. In dong so, the author so fthe guideline sought to address the gender bias that some men face in therapy.
Below are three out of 10 guidelines from the document:
- Psychologists strive to recognize that masculinities are constructed based on social, cultural, and contextual norms.
- Psychologists strive to recognize that boys and men integrate multiple aspects to their social identities across their lifespan.
- Psychologists understand the impact of power, privilege, and sexism on the development of boys and men and on their relationships with others.
Read the full article on The Atlantic: Psychology Has a New Approach to Building Healthier Men
Analysis:
These days, we are more attuned to hearing from feminists and advocates of LGBTQ or minority races, making their voices heard about the struggles they have due to their identity. Yet, the group that we seem to be neglecting are the men who also suffer from societal expectations to act in a certain manner that goes against their nature, which could actually be harmful for their well-being.
Traditional masculinity, in science, refers to a set of traits and behaviors believed to be culturally appropriate for manhood, and some of these can become harmful if taken to extreme in certain cases. However, not all masculine traits are considered harmful, and may be beneficial for all genders. Getting more therapists to be aware of the gender biases they may have is the right move towards encouraging men to seek help when they require, as they would soon realise that they are able to find the support they need in therapy.
Questions for further personal evaluation:
- To what extent do you think ‘traditional masculinity’ is an issue across cultures, such as in Singapore?
- What more can be done to support men in seeking healthier behaviours?
Useful vocabulary:
- ‘untenable’: not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection
- ‘precarious’: dependent on chance; uncertain
- ‘turmoil’: a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty
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