Impact on Masculine Roles and Activities

This chapter explores the way men talk about the impact of long-term conditions on their daily and valued life activities. I discuss the effect long-term conditions can have on men’s sense of masculinity including the impact on traditionally masculine roles, activities, and their capacity for self-reliance. Men’s self-worth and masculinity can be intricately linked to their occupational status and in this chapter, I discuss the real or implied pressure men can feel to fulfil a breadwinner role. The chapter also includes the way long-term conditions impact men’s family roles.