Understanding Male Suicide in Rural Bangladesh
A Narrative Case Analysis Through Hegemonic Masculinity and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13629876 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Azizur Rahman Khan (0000-0001-8154-0284, Department of Sociology, East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, corresponding author), Najuwa Arendse (0000-0003-4452-5792, Institute for Social and Health Science (ISHS), University of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 302228251362651-302228251362651 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-29 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00302228251362651 |
| PMID | 40729756 |
| OpenAlex | W4412784998 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 51 |
Suicide is an increasingly serious social problem in Bangladesh. Drawing on five male suicide cases in the rural areas of one of the country's most suicide-prone districts, this qualitative study examines the influence of Hegemonic Masculinity and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide in understanding the motivations behind these deaths. These cases provide detailed narrative accounts to illustrate the complex links between masculinity, interpersonal dynamics, and suicide. The first case highlights the devastating effects of physical illness and financial debt. The second centers on overwhelming familial pressure. The third exposes the victim's socially marginalized position due to landlessness. The fourth suggests that suspicions regarding the wife's character played a key role in the husband's decision to take his life. The final case reveals how a life of isolation contributed to suicide. Across these cases, the men were found to be profoundly affected by their inability to meet the expectations of hegemonic or idealized masculinity. In addition, they experienced core elements of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide: perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and an acquired capability for suicide. Given that suicide is a multi-faceted issue, a multi-dimensional intervention strategy is necessary to address this pressing social problem
Hegemonic masculinity · Interpersonal communication · Masculinity · Narrative · Psychiatry · Social isolation · Sociology · Gender Studies · Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Psychology · Social Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Masculinity, Social Connectedness, and Mental Health
The gender paradox in suicidal behavior and its impact on the suicidal process
Health effects of indebtedness
Loneliness around the world
Thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness
An opponent-process theory of motivation
The interpersonal theory of suicide.
“Do You Know How Much I Suffer?”
Financial indebtedness and suicide
Doing masculinity, not doing health? a qualitative study among dutch male employees about health beliefs and workplace physical activity
Understanding complex causes of suicidal behaviour among graduates in Bangladesh
Intimate relationships and Suicidal Behaviour of Men in Bangladesh
Masculinity and Suicide in Bangladesh
I Wanted to Feel Like a Man Again”
Suicide prevention in Bangladesh
Violence across borders
Subordinating hegemonic masculinity
The bright side of dark emotions
Men’s Coercive Control, Partner Violence Perpetration, and Life Satisfaction in Bangladesh
Stoicism and sensation seeking
Sacrifice for the sake of the family
Men, masculinities and suicidal behaviour
Sociological autopsy
Her Support, His Support
Hegemonic Masculinity
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |