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Better dead than dishonored: Masculinity and male suicidal behavior in contemporary Ghana

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  • Adinkrah, Mensah

Abstract

In Ghana reliable official data on suicidal behavior are not available. There is also limited empirical research on suicidal behavior in the country. At the same time, police-recorded suicide data, media reports, and communication from professionals in the field indicate that suicidal behavior is a growing problem. To identify current patterns and meanings of male suicidal behavior in Ghana, the study examined official police data spanning 2006–2008. This investigation revealed that reported cases of fatal and nonfatal suicidal behavior overwhelmingly involved males. Furthermore, the majority of males who engaged in suicidal acts did so to deal with feelings of shame and dishonor of variable sources. Findings suggest changing the rigid dichotomization associated with male-female gender roles and socialization that emphasize masculinity ideals in Ghana and the need for increased research and the promotion of counseling for males facing emotional stress.

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  • Adinkrah, Mensah, 2012. "Better dead than dishonored: Masculinity and male suicidal behavior in contemporary Ghana," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(4), pages 474-481.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:74:y:2012:i:4:p:474-481
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.10.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Courtenay, Will H., 2000. "Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men's well-being: a theory of gender and health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 50(10), pages 1385-1401, May.
    2. Amoakohene, Margaret Ivy, 2004. "Violence against women in Ghana: a look at women's perceptions and review of policy and social responses," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(11), pages 2373-2385, December.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zaheer, Juveria & Shera, Wes & Tsang, A. Ka Tat & Law, Samuel & Fung, Wai Lun Alan & Eynan, Rahel & Lam, June & Zheng, Xiaoqian & Pozi, Liu & Links, Paul S., 2016. "“I just couldn’t step out of the circle. I was trapped”: Patterns of endurance and distress in Chinese-Canadian women with a history of suicidal behaviour," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 43-53.
    3. Stephen Baffour Adjei, 2015. "Assessing Women Empowerment in Africa," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 27(1), pages 58-80, March.
    4. Fast, Danya & Bukusi, David & Moyer, Eileen, 2020. "The knife's edge: Masculinities and precarity in East Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    5. Joseph Osafo & Charity S. Akotia & Emmanuel N.-B. Quarshie & Kofi E. Boakye & Johnny Andoh-Arthur, 2017. "Police Views of Suicidal Persons and the Law Criminalizing Attempted Suicide in Ghana: A Qualitative Study With Policy Implications," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(3), pages 21582440177, September.
    6. Panter-Brick, Catherine & Eggerman, Mark, 2018. "The field of medical anthropology in Social Science & Medicine," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 233-239.
    7. Rambotti, Simone, 2020. "Is there a relationship between welfare-state policies and suicide rates? Evidence from the U.S. states, 2000–2015," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    8. Hagaman, Ashley K. & Wagenaar, Bradley H. & McLean, Kristen E. & Kaiser, Bonnie N. & Winskell, Kate & Kohrt, Brandon A., 2013. "Suicide in rural Haiti: Clinical and community perceptions of prevalence, etiology, and prevention," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 61-69.

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