Adding Insult to Injury: Male Infertility May Predict Other Health Problems
Dear HealthyMen: My wife and I have been trying for a year and have been unable to get pregnant. I want to be there to support her, but I’m suffering too and feeling something less than manly. Is there something wrong with me? Masculinity is a complicated thing. And...
Of Masks and Masculinity
Dear Healthy Men: I’ve really had it with COVID and the non-stop pressure to wear a mask. I’m a 35-year old, very fit man and doubt I’m going to get sick. Plus, the things look positively goofy. And anyway, if the President of the United States won’t wear a mask, why...
Beards: The Secret to Success or the Kiss of Death?
Dear Healthy Men: Do women really find men with beards more attractive than clean-shaven guys? A: According to the old story, in 1860, Abraham Lincoln grew a beard in response to a suggestion from an 11-year-old girl who said it would make him a more attractive...
When It Comes to Stereotypes, Words Matter. A Lot.
A few days ago, I heard a young father telling his son—who was probably around 10 or 11—to “man up.” I started thinking about that phrase and wondered about all the gender stereotyping we do without even realizing it. Are expressions like “man up” harmless parts of or...
Could Masculinity Be Killing Us?
Dear Healthy Men: How much do you think that masculinity could be hurting men? A: A lot. But I’d argue that it’s less masculinity itself and more the pressure to be a “real man”—which, thanks to phrases like “Man up,” “Play through it,” and “Big boys don’t cry,”...