An analysis of World Happiness Report data and a global survey of gender beliefs found that countries with stronger beliefs about insecure masculinity not only tend to have less happy citizens, but also lower GDP, lower life expectancy, lower social support and higher perceptions of corruption. The paper is social science and medicine.
The belief in unstable masculinity is based on the idea that masculinity is a social status that must be earned and can easily be lost. According to this perspective, being a “real man” is seen as something that constantly needs to be proven through actions and accomplishments. These beliefs suggest that masculinity is more fragile and socially judged than femininity. Because of this perceived vulnerability, men feel pressure to prove their masculinity in public and social situations.
Research shows that threats to masculinity can cause some men to react with competitiveness, aggression, or risk-taking. Insecure masculinity beliefs are often reinforced by cultural norms that associate masculinity with strength, independence, and control. Men may experience anxiety, embarrassment, or social anxiety when they feel these expectations are not being met. Research also shows that insecure beliefs about masculinity are tied to adherence to traditional gender roles.
Study authors James R. Mahalik and Michael P. Harris hypothesized that insecure beliefs about masculinity may be associated with national well-being and other factors that determine the well-being of people in different countries. More specifically, the researchers predicted that countries with stronger masculinity insecurity beliefs would tend to be less happy, have lower gross domestic product (GDP), lower social support, lower perceptions of freedom, lower levels of generosity, poorer health, and higher perceptions of corruption.
These authors analyzed data from the World Happiness Report and combined it with data from a large study of cross-cultural gender beliefs. The World Happiness Report is a dataset created by Gallup World Poll using data from 137 countries. Approximately 1,000 respondents per country report their views each year in this report.
The study authors used data from the report on happiness, gross domestic product, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom of choice, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. Data for the Cross-Cultural Gender Beliefs Dataset was collected from 33,417 college students from 62 countries. By overlaying these two datasets, the researchers focused their final analysis on 59 countries.
The results showed that countries where insecure beliefs about masculinity were more pronounced tended to have lower levels of national happiness. They also tended to have lower GDP, shorter life expectancy, lower social support, and higher perceptions of corruption. However, the researchers found no significant relationship between insecure beliefs about masculinity and a country’s overall generosity or its citizens’ perceived freedom to make life choices.
The authors suggest that strict gender norms have a negative impact on the national economy by keeping men away from important “feminine” fields such as caregiving and education, and limiting women’s labor force participation. Additionally, the pressure to appear tough encourages risky health behaviors (such as smoking and heavy drinking), inhibits emotional vulnerability, and ultimately shortens life expectancy and undermines community trust. The researchers also noted that unstable ideals of masculinity are often exploited by authoritarian “strongman” political leaders, which can deepen social polarization and division.
“This study highlights significant social factors associated with unstable masculinity beliefs and demonstrates their deleterious link to national happiness and well-being. In an era where rigid masculinity norms are making a comeback, these findings raise the bar for addressing cultural pressures that undermine collective well-being. “As global societies grapple with declining well-being and social fragmentation, addressing insecure masculinity could be an important step toward fostering healthier and more cohesive communities,” the study authors concluded.
This study contributes to scientific understanding of the association between insecure beliefs about masculinity and other important characteristics of society. However, the study’s correlational design does not allow for causal inferences from the results. Therefore, it remains unclear whether abandoning unstable masculinity beliefs increases societal well-being or whether decreased well-being strengthens unstable masculinity beliefs.
The study authors note that economic hardship, declining life expectancy and increasing corruption in society may well contribute to the perception that men are insecure. Furthermore, data on gender beliefs rely on samples of university students and may not be fully representative of the broader population of those countries.
The paper, “Precarious Masculinities, Precarious Nations: The Contribution of Cultural Beliefs Involving Masculinity to National Well-Being,” was authored by James R. Mahalik and Michael P. Harris.
