“Man Points”: Masculine Capital and Young Men’s Health Objective: Health behaviors are important resources for the development and display of masculine identity. The aim of this mixed-method study was to examine how “masculine capital” is accrued via traditionally masculine behaviors, and used to permit non-masculine behavior. Methods: An online survey assessing personal importance of gender identity, gender role stereotypes, and beliefs about the gender of various health behaviors was completed by 731 university students. Interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 16 of these men and women. Results: Quantitative data showed significant positive associations between perceived masculinity and engagement in a greater number of traditionally masculine health behaviors. Such patterns were clearest among young men and women who endorsed gender role stereotypes and gave greater importance to their own gender identity. Qualitative data supported the quantitative data: participants with more traditional gender role beliefs had more strict beliefs about the masculinity of various health behaviors. When asked about their own experiences, many men described having engaged in traditionally masculine health-related behaviors so as to accrue masculine capital or use it to permit non-masculine (or feminine) behavior. Conclusions: The novel use of a approach in this mixed-method study of young men and women expanded on earlier smaller scale studies of men and masculine capital. The findings add to understanding of the concept of “masculine capital,” and suggest how it may aid efforts to better understand and improve young men’s health. Young men’s concerns about masculinity could be harnessed to encourage healthy “masculine” behavior. However, such approaches may not be effective for men who eschew traditional definitions of masculinity. Furthermore, failure to question socially constructed definitions of gender may reinforce stereotypes that restrict men’s and women’s opportunities. Keywords: masculinity, health, gender, stereotype, identity relations
responses to social constructions of gender (Willig, 2000). Quantitative Questionnaire A sample of English university students (503 women, 228 men) aged 18-25 was recruited in 2010 via invitations in lectures and via email for a study of “lifestyles”. The denominator - eligible students exposed to messages - was not known, so the response rate is unknown. The sample size provided 96% power to detect “moderate” effects in between- and within-sex analyses at p < .05 (Cohen, 1988). The sample reflected the local student population: mean age 19.8 years (s.d. = 1.8); 86.0% “white” ethnicity; 84.0% with English as the main language at home; 43% with both parents university educated. The questionnaire was hosted on a secure server. The homepage described the study and informed consent procedures. Data were stored in password-protected files accessible only by the researchers. Upon completion of the questionnaire, participants were able to enter a draw for one of four £25 prizes and indicated their willingness to complete a follow-up interview. The methods were approved by the appropriate university ethics committee. Participants completed a 10-item Sex-Role Egalitarianism Scale (SRES: Beere et al., 1984; Cronbach  = .82), which measured their support for stereotypes of male and female social roles. This scale allowed examination of the associations between endorsement of gender-role stereotypes in general and beliefs about the masculine capital value of various health-related behaviors. Participants used 5-point scales (anchors: “strongly disagree” and “strongly agree”) to respond to statements such as “It is wrong for men to enter a traditionally female career.” Higher mean scores indicated more traditional gender role attitudes. Importance of Gender was assessed via novel items. Respondents used 5-point likert scales (anchors: “not at all” and “extremely”) to respond to two questions: “How important to you is it to be [masculine / feminine]?” Responses to these questions were significantly negatively correlated (r = -.40, p < .01). The analyses used men’s ratings of the importance of masculinity and women’s ratings of the importance of femininity to determine how personal