Is it an issue before it’s a problem? Investigating men’s talk about fertility

Abstract

While fatherhood and male involvement in family life have been the focus of much research during the past few decades, we know less about men's involvement in the stage that precedes fatherhood and reproductive decisionmaking, their awareness of and sense of responsibility for reproductive health and fertility. This article draws attention to how men talk about fertility and reproductive intentions, focusing on how their perceptions and knowledge of fertility and procreation are structured around social norms and expectations. The study was based on interviews with 25 men in reproductive age with no prior history of infertility, including men with as well as without children and men of different sexual orientations and gender diversity. Our findings indicate a tension between, on the one hand, a general tendency among the men to take their fertility for granted and neither think nor talk about it, and, on the other hand, a latent concern about possible infertility which seemed to be activated in the interview situation. These findings raise questions of how conversations about fertility might impact men's thinking about their own fertility that call for further exploration and that are of significance in considerations of how to promote fertility awareness and reproductive health.

The pros and cons of fertility awareness and information: a generational, Swedish perspective

“…However, distress experienced by young adults is not only based on awareness about the agerelated fertility decline, but also equally based on social expectations of when to have a child. Young people juggle the awareness of fertility decline with the desire to have finished an education, having found a loving partner, being in phase with their friends and not becoming a too old and tired parent (Bergn ehr, 2008;Bodin & K€ all, 2020;Ragnar et al, 2018).…”

“…Neither is 'being aware' regarded as inherently positive or uncomplicated. As described in previous studies, many people take their fertility for granted and do not wish to think about their fertility until it is time to conceive or until a problem arises (Bodin et al, 2018;Bodin & K€ all, 2020;Hviid Malling et al, 2020). Thinking actively about one's fertility and having it assessed can lead to existential thoughts and dilemmas.…”

The Phenomenon of Involuntary Celibates (Incels) in Internet Meme Culture: A Reflection of Masculine Domination

“…Incels' phenomenon, which emphasized their lack of idealized masculinity which leads to a lack of authoritative or domineering power over women, based on a sense of rejection and humiliation, is perfectly reflected with the narration of masculine domination. Pierre Bourdieu (Bourdieu, 1998) argued that masculine domination can be defined as a paradox of Doxa; a subconscious social order or system which regulates roles in society, alongside punishment and reward. In addition, masculine domination or hegemonic masculinity can be defined as hegemonic masculinity; the social implementation and governmental structures that encourage men to hold the authoritative role, while simultaneously promoting the subordinative position towards women in society (Martin, 2021).…”

“…In addition, P. Bourdieu argued that there are two valuations of men and masculinity. First is nif, masculine appearances and traits which later produce an expected trait of men (virility) (Bourdieu, 1998); which passed through parental influences, education, media, and peers group (Connel, 2020), to be observed by the opposite sex as a sign of masculinity, even by the lack of it (Buchbinder, 2012) and subsequently become the hypothesis as a major pattern of both social admiration and affirmation to achieve a successful relationship (Gonalons-Pons, Gangl, 2021;Lamont, 2014;Lamont, 2020;West, Zimmerman, 1987).…”

Preconditions to parenthood: changes over time and generations

“…However, an individual’s decision about whether, when and how to have children is also biosocial, in the sense that it is based on the interaction between perceptions of the social environment and one’s biological functions ( Martin, 2017 ). Thus, the decision often includes a negotiation between the biological and social aspects of aging ( Bodin and Käll, 2020 , Cooke et al, 2012 , Hadley, 2018 , Martin, 2017 ). As mentioned, parenthood has been postponed increasingly during the past decades in many countries.…”