This course will explore the subject of men’s health and perceptions of masculinity using an interdisciplinary approach. As is usual in gender studies classes, we intend to cover not only gender differences in men’s health care, but also differences and disparities related to race, ethnicity, and social class. The course has three sections: Theories, Bodies and Culture, and will include areas of emphasis such as hypertension and vascular disease, breast and prostate cancer, sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV), alternative and complementary medicine, and other issues such a violence, depression, infertility, erectile dysfunction, and impotence. These subjects will be explored with a focus on historical cases and epidemiological differences between groups.

Students will be expected to complete readings for each class prior to attending discussion. In addition, two papers on topics related to men’s health will be required. There will be two tests.

Required Texts:
Course Pack

Sept. 11
Introduction to course -Why Study Health? Men’s and Women’s Issues (Johnson/Metzl)

Required:
Shelton DL: Men avoid physician visits, often don’t know whom to see. AMNews, April 10, 2000

The trouble with men. The Economist, September 28, 1996, 19-26

Courtenay WH: Teaming up for the new men’s health movement. J Med’s Studies, (8), Spring 2000, 387-392.

Why study men? (Metzl)

Group Exercise (Metzl/Johnson)

Berger M, Wallis B, Watson S: Introduction. Constructing Masculinity. In: Berger M, Wallis B, Watson S (eds). (New York: Routledge), 1-7.

Fausto-Sterling A: How To Build a Man. Constructing Masculinity. In: Berger M, Wallis B, Watson S (eds). (New York: Routledge), 127-134.

Hooks B: Doing It For Daddy. Constructing Masculinity. In: Berger M, Wallis B, Watson S (eds). (New York: Routledge), 98-106.

Connell RW: The social organization of masculinity. Masculinities: Knowledge, Power and Social Change. University of California Press, 67-119.

and health. Social Science & Medicine, (50), 2000, 1385-1401.

Introduction. Four Studies of the Dynamics of Masculinity. 89-92.

Live Fast and Die Young. Four Studies of the Dynamics of Masculinity. 93-119.

Courtenay WH: Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men’s well-being: A theory of gender

Stains LR: Will you get an education, or an earful? It depends on which college you pick. Men’s Health. 121-127, Sept. 2000.

Masculinity, race, and racism: Film and Discussion: “The Invisible Revolution” (Metzl)

Engelhardt HT: The disease of masturbation: Values and the concept of disease. Sickness and Health in America, University of Wisconsin Press, 1985, 13-21.

Pernick MS: Defining the defective – Eugenics, aesthetics and mass culture in early-twentieth centuryAmerica. The Body and Physical Difference: Discourses of Disability Mitchell DT, Snyder SL (eds). University of Michigan, 1997, 89-110.

History of disease (Pernick)

John Henryism and the health of black men (James)

James SA: John Henryism and the health of African Americans. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry (18), 1994, 163-182.

Dressler WW, et al: John Henryism, gender and arterial blood pressure in an African American community. Psychosomatic Medicine (60), 1998, 620-624.

Masculinity, disability, and representation (Siebers)

What is feminism and shy do feminists talk about masculinity? (Harris/Metzl/ Johnson)

Siebers T: My Withered Limb. Goldstein L (ed). Michigan Quarterly Review, 196-205, 1998.

Mark O’Brien. Becoming Her, 1992.

Mark O’Brien – Tracy would’ve been a pretty girl, 1992.

Faludi S: The betrayal of the American man. Newsweek, September 1999, 46-60.

Delmar R: What is feminism? Theorizing Feminism. Herrmann I, Stewart A (eds), Westview Press, 1994, 5-25.

Kimmel MS: Who’s afraid of men doing feminism? Men Doing Feminism. Digby T (ed), Routledge NY, 1998, 57-68.

Principles of primary health care (Johnson)

Vascular disease (Jacobs)

Required:

Courtnenay WH: Behavioral factors associated with disease, injury, and death among men: Evidence and implications for prevention. Journal of Men’s Health 9:81-142, 2000.

Oct. 23

Community of AIDS (Gant)

STD’s (Pearlman)

Required:

Garrett L: The virus at the end of the world. Esquire, 1999, 102+.

Wilkinson A: Please leave David Ho alone. Esquire, 1999, 110+.

The history of discovery and response. AIDS in the World II, Mann and Tarantola (eds.), Oxford Press, 1996, 429-440.

Oct. 30

Psychoanalysis (Erhlich)

Condoms (Anderson) Required:

Lerner HD, Ehrlich J: Psychoanalytic Model. In: Van Hasslet, Hersen M (eds): Advanced Abnormal Psychology. New York:Plenum Press, 1994), 67-91.

Person ES: Male Sexuality and Power. 3-25.

Richens J, et al: Condoms and seat belts: The parallels and lessons. Lancet 2000: 355: 400-403.

Anderson FWJ: Condoms: A technical guide. The Female Patient (18), 1993, 20-26. Nov. 6

Circumcision (Johnson)

Prostate/Infertility (Underwood)

Required:

Male circumcision and HIV infection. Lancet 2000:355:926-927.

Gardner J: Mis-informed consent? Why parents really choose to circumcise their sons. NOCIRC of Michigan, March 2000.

Preventing infant circumcision – For the well-being of all NOCRIC of Michigan, July 2000.

Nov. 13

Breast cancer (Samuelson)

Gene/Genomes (Jayaratne)

Required:

Nov. 20

Mental health/Depression (Greden)

Tuskegee Studies (Howell) Required:

Olansky S, et al: Untreated syphilis in the male negro. Archives of Dermatology, (73), 1956, 516-522.

Nov. 27

Dating and domestic violence (Saunders)

TBD (Haniff)

Required:

Saunders DG: Domestic violence perpetrators: Recent research findings and their implications for child welfare. Michigan Child Welfare Jaw Journal, Fall 1999, 3-10.

Smith V. Split affinities: The case of interracial rape. Theorizing Feminism. Herrmann I, Stewart A (eds), Westview Press, 1994, 155-170. Dec. 4

Popular Culture (Metzl)

Internet (Alessi)