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Abstract
Recent messages on men's health suggest a crisis in the health of men in general. Most of these present men from a hegemonic view, denoting that men are uncaring, indifferent to their healthcare needs and generally risk takers. The limit of such a conception is its uncritical reference to hegemonic masculinity, without an acknowledgement of different experiences by men. Through a content analysis of articles on men and health from the Sowetan newspaper, this article shows that representations of men in relation to health fail to account for the complex and varied practices of men with regard to their health. This representation is influenced by the contested and constantly shifting role of the media. Although the media play an important role in informing the masses, the article shows that such information is not about all men, nor is it accessible by all men. As a result of socio-economic inequalities and other significant differences among men, the presentations in these newspaper articles limit our view of men to that of a hegemonic one, with negative consequences for men's health. In conclusion, it further limits the facilitation of improving intervention for the health needs of all men.
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