The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate how men understand and talk about their bodies, bodily habits, and feelings. The study was based on qualitative interviews with sixteen sportsmen, all of whom were handball players. Half of the players were on an elite team (aged twenty-five to thirty-five years), and the other half were on an old boys' team (aged thirty-five to sixty-five years). The players were very definite about how an ideal male body should be; they preferred a slim and well-trained body, with strong muscles. Training had become a necessity for many of these sportsmen, and they used physical activity as a way of handling difficult feelings. When they were together, teasing and joking was the usual way they managed embarrassing feelings, and they talked more easily with women than with men about their problems. Data are discussed in relation to what some researchers have described as men's fear of not being man enough and the theory of habitus.
PurposeAsthma is a common chronic disease with gender differences in terms of severity and quality of life. This study aimed to understand the gendered practices of male asthmatic adolescents in terms of living with and managing their chronic disease. The study applied a sociological perspective to identify the gender-related practices of participants and their possible consequences for health and disease.Patients and methodsThe study used a combined ethnomethodology and grounded theory design, which was interpreted using Bourdieu’s theory of practice. We aimed to discover how participants interpreted their social worlds to create a sense of meaning in their everyday lives. The study was based on multistage focus group interviews with five adolescent participants at a specialist center for asthmatic children and youths. We took necessary precautions to protect the participants, according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics and the hospital’s research department.ResultsThe core concept for asthmatic male adolescents was being men. They were focused on being nonasthmatic, and exhibited ambivalence towards the principles of the health services. Physical activity supported their aim of being men and being nonasthmatic, as well as supported their treatment goals. Being fearless, unconcerned, “cool,” and dependent also supported the aim of being men and being nonasthmatic, but not the health service principle of regular medication. Occasionally, the participants were asthmatic when they were not able to or gained no advantages from being nonasthmatic. Their practice of being men independently of being asthmatic emphasized their deeply gendered habits.ConclusionUnderstanding gender differences in living with and managing asthma is important for health workers. Knowledge of embodied gendered habits and their reproduction in social interactions and clinical work should be exploited as a resource during the supervision of asthmatic adolescent boys.
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