ENgAgiNg MEN iN gENdEr iNiTiATivEs - Catalyst

ituals that reinforce masculine norms butalso promote social ties and solidarity onthe basis of these norms. 20 Indeed, therewards for being a man’s man are great,particularly in male-dominated professionswhere being “one of the boys” is oftenparamount to gaining access to informalnetworks and other resources that arelinked to professional advancement. 21The Price Men pay for CONFORMITYIndividual men vary significantly as to how much theycomply with different masculine norms. 22 Moreover,the degree of compliance men exhibit with thesenorms is a key determinant of their well-being, withstrict compliance being highly detrimental. Why?Both women and men share many of the desiresand behaviors that are respectively prescribed formembers of the opposite gender. They are, after all,human qualities. 23 Thus, for both women and menalike, strict conformity to feminine and masculinenorms, respectively, means repressing an aspectof one’s personality. For men in particular, however,the price of compliance with gender norms can beespecially steep and can include poor psychologicaland physical health. Research shows that: 24• In trying to live up to masculine norms, manymen place a priority on career advancement,sacrificing relationships with family, spouses,and friends—relationships that not onlyimprove quality of life but that can also offeran important source of psychological supportin times of stress. 25• Conformity to masculine norms related toemotional control or toughness can limitmen’s ability to acknowledge and seek helpfor problems such as depression, anxiety,and illness. 26Even though the cost of conformity can be quitehigh, resistance is not for the faint-hearted. Researchshows that men experience social penaltiesincluding rejection and loss of status 27 —which areoften harsher than those women face 28 —when theydeviate from their assigned gender scripts.The Price OrganizationsPay for ConformityOrganizations can significantly affectwhether men conform to or resistcertain masculine norms. 29 Researchalso suggests that by rewardingstrict conformity to masculine norms,organizations may inadvertentlycompromise their performance.For example, working with a large oilcompany, researcher Robin Ely found thattraditional masculine norms emphasizingfearlessness and toughness—i.e.,showing no chinks in the armor—hada negative impact on the organization’ssafety record. By reinforcing these norms,the organization paid a significant price:high accident rates.To fix the safety problem, rather thanrewarding oil rig employees, who weremostly male, to live by these masculinenorms, the organization encouraged themto defy these norms and consequentlysaw an 84 percent decline in its accidentrate. What’s more, when employeesstopped being so concerned aboutprojecting a “tough guy” image, theyreported finding new, more fulfilling waysto express their identities as men in theworkplace. 304 | Engaging Men in Gender Initiatives