Nathan J. Wilson

The Dilemma of Disabled Masculinity

A much-cited point by those who study the intersection of gender and disability is that masculinity and disability are in conflict with each other because disability is associated with being dependent and helpless whereas masculinity is associated with being powerful and autonomous, thus creating a lived and embodied dilemma for disabled men. This article maps and critically evaluates the conceptual development of this dilemma of disabled masculinity, tracing how several developments in the fields of disability studies and the critical study of men and masculinities have shaped sociological understandings of disabled masculinity. We suggest that, while social science scholarship has increasingly moved beyond a static understanding and toward a dynamic view of the articulation and interaction between masculinity and disability, there are nevertheless several problems that require attention. The most critical issue conceptually is that the focus of study has been more on masculinity and how it intersects with ‘disability’ as an almost generic category, rather than on how masculinity (or masculinities) intersect(s) differently with various types of impairment. Thus, though there is quite a bit of research on the dilemma of disabled masculinity for men who acquire a physical impairment post-childhood and for groups of men with diverse impairments studied as if they were a homogenous group, less research has been conducted with men who have specific impairments, particularly early-onset, intellectual or degenerative impairments. In this paper we urge researchers to open up the concept of intersectionality to accommodate a range of differences in bodily, cognitive, intellectual and behavioral types (impairments) in their interaction with various masculinities and to show more explicitly how context and life phase contribute to this dynamism.

A narrative review of Men's Sheds literature: reducing social isolation and promoting men's health and well-being.

Mens Sheds are community-based organisations that typically provide a space for older men to participate in meaningful occupation such as woodwork. Mens Sheds are considered an exemplar for the promotion of mens health and well-being by health and social policy-makers. The objective of this literature review was to determine the state of the science about the potential for Mens Sheds to promote male health and well-being. Between October 2011 and February 2012, we conducted searches of databases, the grey literature and manual searches of websites and reference lists. In total, we found 5 reports and 19 articles about Mens Sheds. The majority of the literature has emanated from Australian academics and is about older mens learning in community contexts. There is a limited body of research literature about Mens Sheds; the literature consists of either descriptive surveys or small qualitative studies. The range of variables that might contribute towards best practice in Mens Sheds has not yet been adequately conceptualised, measured, tested or understood. Future research should be focussed on the health and well-being benefits of Mens Sheds; it needs to incorporate social determinants of health and well-being within the study designs to enable comparison against other health promotion research. Without this research focus, there is a danger that the potential health and well-being benefits of Mens Sheds as supportive and socially inclusive environments for health will not be incorporated into future male health policy and practice.

A Masculine Perspective of Gendered Topics in the Research Literature on Males and Females with Intellectual Disability.

Abstract Background A focus on male social pathologies may have evolved within parts of the intellectual disability research literature. This article explores this notion and makes some connections between mainstream gender theory about hegemonic masculinity and the current gendered discourse in intellectual disability research. Method We conducted a thematic analysis of all journal article titles from four prominent intellectual disability journals where “man,” “woman,” “men,” “women,” “male,” “female,” “girl,” and “boy” were mentioned in the title. Results Thematic differences were identified between articles that focused on males or females, with less research attention on male health compared with female health. A strong focus was evident on problematised male sexual behaviour. Conclusions There is a distinct difference evident between articles that problematise males and articles for females encouraging health promotion that suggests a disparate focus on male social pathologies. A deeper contextual analysis of unique sex differences in research is proposed.

Disconnected Expectations: Staff, Family, and Supported Employee Perspectives about Retirement.

Abstract Background Australia has few policies to support the transition of older people with intellectual disability from employment to retirement. This study aimed to identify the possibilities and barriers to retirement for older employees in supported employment services. Method Five distinct participant groups discussed retirement in 6 separate focus group interviews: staff from disability accommodation (7) and employment services (7), members of mainstream activity programs for older people (4), family members (5), and supported employees (2 groups of 6 people). Results Participants perceived retirement as a risk to the well-being and participation of employees. Participants were pessimistic about the availability of necessary support in retirement. The need for additional resources and skills was identified, but the utility of inclusion strategies was not recognised. Continued segregation through specialist programs or adaptation of existing employment programs was the most commonly suggested retirement option by staff and family members. Conclusion Perceptions did not reflect the current policy imperatives of social participation. This poses an additional obstacle to conceptualising, planning, and supporting quality of life for older people with intellectual disability.

Community-based Men's Sheds: promoting male health, wellbeing and social inclusion in an international context

Males experience greater mortality and morbidity than females in most Western countries. The Australian and Irish National Male Health Policies aim to develop a framework to address this gendered health disparity. Mens Sheds have a distinct community development philosophy and are thus identified in both policies as an ideal location to address social isolation and positively impact the health and wellbeing of males who attend. The aim of this international cross-sectional survey was to gather information about Mens Sheds, the people who attend Mens Sheds, the activities at Mens Sheds, and the social and health dimensions of Mens Sheds. Results demonstrate that Mens Sheds are contributing a dual health and social role for a range of male subgroups. In particular, Mens Sheds have an outward social focus, supporting the social and mental health needs of men; health promotion and health literacy are key features of Mens Sheds. Mens Sheds have an important role to play in addressing the gendered health disparity that males face. They serve as an exemplar to health promotion professionals of a community development context where the aims of male health policy can be actualized as one part of a wider suite of global initiatives to reduce the gendered health disparity.

The potential for active mentoring to support the transition into retirement for older adults with a lifelong disability

Older people with a lifelong disability, such as intellectual disability, face significant barriers to enjoying active ageing as they transition into retirement. Active ageing involves enhancement of quality of life through optimising the health, participation, and security of individuals and populations (World Health Organization [WHO], 2002). We propose that the creation of access and linkage, or ‘‘community building’’ structures (Bigby, 1992) within the community that use active support (Stancliffe, Jones, Mansell, & Lowe, 2008) and co-worker training (Farris & Stancliffe, 2001) models, could overcome some of these barriers. Active support and co-worker training represent two empirically tested models of support that can enhance both engagement and participation. Potentially, an adaptation of these models will help create the foundation training for a cost-effective access and linkage program between disability services and generic community groups that will promote active ageing and a successful transition into retirement.

Masculinity theory in applied research with men and boys with intellectual disability.

Researchers in intellectual disability have had limited theoretical engagement with mainstream theories of masculinity. In this article, the authors consider what mainstream theories of masculinity may offer to applied research on, and hence to therapeutic interventions with, men and boys with intellectual disability. An example from one research project that explored male sexual health illustrates how using masculinity theory provided greater insight into gendered data. Finally, we discuss the following five topics to illustrate how researchers might use theories of masculinity: (a) fathering, (b) male physical expression, (c) sexual expression, (d) mens health, and (e) underweight and obesity. Theories of masculinity offer an additional framework to analyze and conceptualize gendered data; we challenge researchers to engage with this body of work.

Men's Sheds: enabling environments for Australian men living with and without long-term disabilities.

The health of Australian men has recently received greater attention. Mens Sheds are named in national policy as an exemplar community-based organisation for the betterment of mens psychosocial health; yet, the evidence base to support this is limited. This study investigates the comparative experience of men with long-term disabilities and men without long-term disabilities who go to a Mens Shed and to what extent this provides these men with an enabling, as opposed to disabling, environment. Data were collected from 12 individual interviews with men with long-term disabilities (5) and men without long-term disabilities (6), including 1 interview with the male Mens Shed Coordinator (MSC); participant observation within the shed; and a document received from the female MSC regarding the funding the Shed receives. Interviews explored the mens experiences at the Shed and their sense of belonging and social inclusion. Participants had any type of long-term disability and had been attending the shed for a minimum of 1 month. Data were collected between May and September 2013 and were analysed using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. The core theme that emerged was an enabling community space. The four sub-themes were: a community and social hub; an equalising space; a safe and supportive male environment; and meaningful male activities. The current literature exemplifies Mens Sheds to be important community-based organisations beneficial to mens health and well-being. For men living with long-term disabilities, this study illuminates that Mens Sheds offer an environment of equality, facilitating a collegial and egalitarian culture. Men can partake in enabling activities and enjoy the company of other men enhancing their sense of belonging and social inclusion as well as interact with other community groups that occupy the same space as the Mens Shed.

Mentoring at Men's Sheds: an international survey about a community approach to health and well-being

Mens Sheds are named within the Australian and Irish National Male Health Policies as an exemplar of male health and well-being and offer a range of formal and informal mentoring to counter the known consequences of social exclusion. The study aimed to report on whether Mens Sheds undertake mentoring programmes, and if so, who is being mentored; are mentors being trained, and if so by whom; and the perceived effectiveness of the mentoring programme. Furthermore, the study aimed to explore associations between sheds with a mentoring programme and factors that reflect an inclusive and a health-focused environment. All known Mens Sheds were invited to participate in the survey; of those, 324 (42.8%) Mens Sheds in Australia and 59 (48.0%) International sheds participated in the study between April and August 2012. Overall, 39.2% (n = 127) of Australian sheds and 23.7% (n = 14) of International sheds undertook formal mentoring. Youth was the most common group being mentored in both Australia (60.6%; n = 77) and Internationally (71.4%; n = 10). Over half of Australian shed co-ordinators rated their mentoring programme as moderately effective (52.8%; n = 67) and over a third as highly effective (36.2%; n = 46), while half of International shed co-ordinators rated theirs as highly effective (50.0%; n = 7). The findings from this paper support the notion that a large number of Mens Sheds offer formal mentoring programmes targeting a range of disadvantaged sub-populations, thus supporting social inclusion. Inter-generational mentoring is the most frequently occurring type of mentoring programme. While training mentors occurs at some sheds, the efficacy of this training and programme outcomes are unknown. A typology of shed types appears to be emerging based on a divergence of sheds with a more utilitarian focus and sheds that appear to embrace a health and well-being focus.

Gendered service delivery : a masculine and feminine perspective on staff gender

Despite acknowledgement that paid caregivers have a significant impact on the lives of people with intellectual disability, the subjective experience of staff gender is rarely considered in research. Qualitative data from a study on the sexual health needs of men and boys with intellectual disability is presented. We designed this study to determine what impact staff gender has on the sexual health needs of men and boys with intellectual disability. Findings suggest that although staff traverse the same geographies of care, they do it in uniquely gendered ways. Staff gender is an important consideration when dealing with sexual health matters and can enhance the type and quality of relationships between people with intellectual disability.