Hey Brother, How's Your Health?

Abstract

Men, especially African American men, have poorer health than women. To identify concerns and experiences that may contribute to this disparity, participatory action research methods were used to conduct six focus groups with fifty-nine participants in a North Carolina city. Aspects of male gender socialization were identified as major barriers to health. This socialization influences many behaviors in which men engage, such as unhealthy diet, limited exercise, unsafe sex, and substance abuse. Focus group participants with fewer educational and financial resources discussed drug-infested communities, economic barriers, crime, lack of affordable health insurance, and perceived discrimination in health care encounters. Participants with more formal education and more financial resources expressed concerns about managed care and chronic diseases. These results demonstrate the importance of male gender socialization in the health of African American men. In addition, economic class must be taken into account when addressing the health of African American men.