Masculinity and Men’s Suicide Attempts in Bangladesh

Abstract

Drawing on Raewyn Connell’s theoretical notion of hegemonic masculinity, this study examines relations between masculinity and suicide attempts in Bangladesh. In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 men from the Jhenaidah district, who had previously attempted suicide. Participants discussed how “real men” were expected to be primary providers, demonstrate their material power and sexual prowess. However, the men disclosed that they encountered difficulties in achieving these versions of hegemonic masculinity in their real lives. Within this context, suicide attempts operated as a redemptive means to overcome perceived masculine “crises.” These findings demonstrate that suicide is a socially and culturally constituted phenomenon, which should be understood beyond an individualized and mental health framework. Suicide intervention strategies in Bangladesh must include critical analyses of masculinities, as well as measures to change rigid processes of gendered socialization.

Keywords:

• Suicide attempt
• hegemonic masculinity
• crisis
• men
• Bangladesh

Declaration of conflict of interests

There are no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Disclosure statement

The article is original and has not been published for publication elsewhere.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

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Notes on contributors

Anisur Rahman Khan

Anisur Rahman Khan is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology, East West University, Bangladesh. His research interests include men and masculinity, sociology of suicide and social policy analysis.

Isaac Dery

Isaac Dery is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of African and General Studies at the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Ghana. Isaac holds a PhD in Gender Studies from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. His research interest focuses on constructions of masculinity and femininity, gender-based violence, peacebuilding, and African feminism(s). Isaac’s publications have appeared in Social Science and Medicine, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Gender, Place and Culture, NORMA, etc.

Rebecca Helman

Rebecca Helman is a Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. Her research interests include gender, violence and sexualities within “post-colonial” contexts.