Fit to father? Online accounts of lifestyle changes and help-seeking on a male infertility board

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2249392
AutoresEsmée Hanna (0000-0002-0649-6620, Centre for Health Promotion Research Leeds Beckett University Leeds UK, autor correspondente), Brendan Gough (0000-0001-7438-0139, School of Social Sciences Leeds Beckett University Leeds UK), N Hudson (0000-0003-4091-1493, Applied Social Sciences De Montfort University Leicester UK)
Ano2018
Volume40
Fascículo6
Páginas937-953
Data de publicação2018-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.12733
PMID29626356
OpenAlexW2781934673
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas9
Referências citadas40

The reproductive realm is routinely viewed as a feminised space requiring women's commitment and labour. By contrast, men's procreative contributions and 'reproductive masculinity' is represented as unproblematic, with men assumed to be fertile across the lifespan. Recent scientific research has, however, cast doubt over these longstanding assumptions, suggesting that a link does exist between 'lifestyle' factors and male fertility. The notion that fertility can be improved with effort (for both women and men) can be located within wider cultural and political shifts which construct individuals as increasingly responsible for acting on health messages and engaging in self-disciplining body projects. Through an exploration of 'lifestyle changes' within a men's online infertility discussion forum board, this paper examines how discourses of individualisation healthism and masculinity are reproduced and interlinked. Our thematic analysis indicates that 'lifestyle work' is construed as crucial for achieving conception - and as a means to demonstrate men's commitment to the dyadic goal of parenthood, which in turn may challenge and extend previous notions of 'reproductive masculinity

Biology · Construct (python library · Fertility · Infertility · Masculinity · Political science · Politics · Population · Pregnancy · Qualitative research · Realm · Reproductive health · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies · Demography · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Gender Studies · Law · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Social Psychology