Indigenous men’s pathways to ‘living the right kind of life and walking the right path’: Understanding impacts of systemic oppression and guidance for healing and (w)holistic sexual health.

Citation:

Rand, J., Melro, C., Biderman, M., McMillian, J., Miller, A., Lekas, S., Numer, M (2022). Indigenous men’s pathways to ‘living the right kind of life and walking the right path: Understanding impacts of systemic oppression and guidance for healing and (w)holistic sexual health. Culture, Health, and Sexuality. Open Access: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13691058.2022.2055149

Abstract:

Indigenous men around the world hold expertise over their own lives. Informed by this perspective, this study centres this experience to better understand what is needed to improve sexual health outcomes among a group of men with a history of incarceration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Indigenous men with such a history. Through thematic analysis the study identified two major themes: 1) the impacts of systemic oppression; 2) the value of guidance in walking the right path. Men identified colonial trauma and the associated mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wounds stemming from systemic oppression as continuing to impact their wellbeing. Men also described the systems of support necessary to help guide them on their journeys through incarceration, rehabilitation and building strong and nurturing relationships. Findings from the study provide important guidance from Indigenous men for future more holistic sexual health intervention programming.

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Embracing a New Day: Exploring the Connections of Culture, Masculinities, Bodies, and Health for Gay Men through Photovoice

Citation

Joy, P., Numer, M., Kirk, S., Aston, M. (2021). Embracing a New Day: Exploring the Connections of Culture, Masculinities, Bodies, and Health for Gay Men through Photovoice. Journal of Bodies, Sexualities and Masculinities

Abstract

The construction of masculinities is an important component of the bodies and lives of gay men. The role of gay culture on body standards, body dissatisfaction, and the health of gay men was explored using poststructuralism and queer theory within an arts-based framework. Nine gay men were recruited within the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Participants were asked to photograph their beliefs, values, and practices relating to their bodies and food. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, using the photographs as guides. Data were analyzed by critical discourse analysis and resulted in three overarching threads of discourse including: (1) Muscles: The Bigger the Better, (2) The Silence of Hegemonic Masculinity, and (3) Embracing a New Day. Participants believed that challenging hegemonic masculinity was a way to work through body image tension.

Link: https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/jbsm/2/2/jbsm020203.xml

Pathways for Sexual Health Promotion Among Indigenous Boys and Men: A Community Report

Citation

Gaspar, C. M., Rand, J., Biderman, M., Boussard, A., Bogner, E., Lekas, S., Miller, D., McMillian, J., & Numer, M. (2021). Pathways for Sexual Health Promotion Among Indigenous Boys and Men: A Community Report. Halifax, NS.

Executive Summary

The Pathways for Sexual Health Promotion among Indigenous Boys and Men was a research project designed to specifically understand Indigenous boys’ and men’s holistic sexual health in Canada, and more specifically in Atlantic Canada. It was co-developed by Dalhousie University, Healing Our Nation and Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. The project was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health

Research (CIHR) through a Catalyst Grant and aimed to meet the following objectives:

• Review the academic and grey literature on the current state of holistic sexual health among Indigenous boys and men provincially and nationally

• Organize community consultations in partnership with community organizations to explore the topic of Indigenous boys’ and men’s holistic sexual health

• Gain insight into the perspectives, experiences and contributions of key informants and stakeholders

• Investigate the role of post-colonial masculinities in the production of Indigenous boys’ and men’s holistic sexual health

  A key message driving the project was the need to provide Indigenous boys

  and men spaces of healing and mentorship to inform sexual health programing. The

  specific findings from this project include:

• The review of the literature emphasized that there is a scarcity of research exploring the sexual health of Indigenous boys and men in Canada, particularly in the Atlantic Canada region.

• Community consultation demonstrated the need for safer spaces for Indigenous boys and men to be able to talk about sexual health to promote healthy relationships and positive sexual health practices through role modeling.

• The findings from the stakeholder interviews revealed three pathways for sexual health promotion: 1) developing healthy relationships and highlighting role models, 2) providing access to comprehensive sexual health information, and 3) fostering open communication among Indigenous boys and men.

• Emerging from the 10 interviews with Indigenous men were two key themes: 1) the systems of oppression that effected their journeys; and 2) the systems of support that have and will enable them to recover.

  The findings from this project informed the proposal for a larger CIHR Operating grant project, Indigenous Masculinities and Sexual Health: Exploring community- driven interventions among boys and men through land-based methodologies, in collaboration with Dalhousie University, Healing Our Nation and the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. This Indigenous Masculinities and Sexual Health Project is now exploring holistic sexual health of Indigenous boys and men through Major Gatherings and Learning Lodges. These gatherings and lodges are being developed by Healing Our Nation and the Mi’kmaw Friendship Centre based on the findings from this catalyst project and the community-based sexual health findings are being explored by the Sexual Health and Gender Research Lab at Dalhousie University.

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Masculinity, coping, and weightlifting in university men: A qualitative description of coping and psychological benefit.

Citation

Hutt, E., & Numer, M. (2015). Masculinity, coping, and weightlifting in university men: A qualitative description of coping and psychological benefit. Journal of Sporting Cultures and Identities, 6(3), 15-27. DOI: 10.18848/2381-7070/CGP/v06i03/54072

Abstract

This qualitative study investigated how masculinity interacted with the use of weightlifting as a coping mechanism by university-aged men, and what psychological benefits men perceive in that sport. Participants were four men, aged 19 to 22, who lifted weights between three and six times per week. A qualitative description methodology was used to conduct this research and data was collected through individual semi-structured face-to-face interviews. This study found that participants identified with some traditional masculine ideals and described internal validation through weightlifting. The perceived benefits of weightlifting were experienced by becoming stronger, external validation through compliments from others, and reported social benefits from the gym community. The benefits of weightlifting itself were contextual and could either exacerbate or reduce psychological stress. Participants, however, reported important long-term coping benefits from weightlifting. Overall, engaging in weightlifting helped participants cope with psychological stressors, which could help inform practice in the field of men’s psychological and physical health.

https://doi.org/10.18848/2381-7070/CGP/v06i03/54072

The sexual health of gay men in the post-AIDS era: Feminist, post-structuralist and queer theory perspectives.

Citation

Numer, M., & Gahagan, J. (2009). The sexual health of gay men in the post-AIDS era: Feminist, post-structuralist and queer theory perspectives. International Journal of Men’s Health, 8(2), 155-168. DOI: 10.3149/jmh.0802.155

Abstract

This article discusses feminist, post-structuralist and queer theories as a framework for masculinities research on sexual health promotion efforts targeting gay men, particularly in relation to HIV prevention. The theories discussed have the potential to challenge the social categories associated with gender, sex, sexual identity and sexual orientation which often determine identities and subjectivities. Recognizing masculinity as a gender "performance" rather than a fixed identity enables health researchers to more fully investigate gendered sexual behaviors which are imbued with social, political and economic meaning. A combined feminist, post-structuralist and queer theoretical framework provides a way to understand how concepts of masculinity organize social interactions and how these in turn shape and inform the sexual health behaviors of men. The purpose of this article is to offer an approach for use by gay men's health researchers working on health promotion.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3149/jmh.0802.155

The sexual health of gay men: Exploring the intersections of identity, masculinities and sexual health promotion.

Citation

Numer, M. (2008). The sexual health of gay men: Exploring the intersections of identity, masculinities and sexual health promotion. The International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations Annual Review, 8(3), 249-254. DOI 10.18848/1447-9532/CGP/v08i03/39611

Abstract

This paper will explore the implications of traditional masculinity in relation to public health discourse aimed at the sexual health of gay men. The examination of gay men as gendered subjects who perform gender acts in relation to sexual health practices is critical to addressing issues of diversity in this sector of health care, particularly in relation to HIV/AIDS. Despite the growing attention given to the theory and practice associated with gay men’s sexual health behaviors, there remains a gap in the literature and a lack of understanding of dominant or hegemonic masculinity as it influences the sexual health practices of gay men. Traditionally, there is a paradoxical relationship between gay men and the notions of masculinity. While gay men theoretically hold a subordinate position in the hierarchy of heterosexual hegemonic masculinity, there exists a similar masculine hierarchy within the gay male community which in turn has an erotic association. That is, gay men are often ranked according to their ability to “measure up”, both in relation to other men and as sexual objects, to the standard of hegemonic masculinity which entail power, dominance, invulnerability and more. This situation, along with the recent theorizing of men’s practices of masculinity being associated with their poorer health, leads to the logical conclusion that gay men’s sexual health practices can be linked to a systemic hegemonic masculinity. If the full breadth and depth of sexual health among young gay men are to be considered in the development of health policy and health promotion, the intersections of gender, sex and sexuality must be explored. The aim of this argument is to present issues of diversity within the category “men”, and to illustrate the multiplicities and intersections of identity within the category “gay men”.

https://doi.org/10.18848/1447-9532/CGP/v08i03/39611