Depression and the Performance of Masculinity in a Military Retirement Community. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Medeiros, Kate; Rubinstein, Robert L.
• Other Names: Thompson Edward H. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Men and masculinities. Volume 19:Number 2(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 148
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: older adults -- qualitative research -- military -- depression -- age identity; Men's studies -- Periodicals; Étude de genre; Étude sur les hommes; Homme; Identité masculine; Masculinité; Perception sociale; Recherche; Rôle selon le sexe; Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); 305.3105
• DOI: 10.1177/1097184X15606932
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1097-184X

Abstract

Depression can be viewed as a psychiatric illness and, as a folk ideology, part of the conceptual world of everyday life for many people. In public culture, ideas about depression are often associated with culturally feminine traits (e.g., expressed sadness, uncontrollable crying, and other forms of emotionality) and in contrast to a sense of rationality publicly ascribed (however incorrectly) to men. Such gendered traits can consequently pose challenges to constructions of masculinity in older men who experience forms of stress related to loss and finitude. This article draws upon interviews from a unique sample—eight older men who reside in a military-sponsored retirement community—to explore how masculinity is performed and defended in light of age- and person-based threats such as depression. Findings point to the importance of the lifelong identity as a military serviceman as an important site through which to negotiate, process, or deny change with age.