Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Warning: being a man is a danger to your health

By Peter West - posted Monday, 14 September 2015


Male suicide rates continue to exceed those in females throughout life, and, as is universally known, women survive men by several years in almost all countries, and the gap is widening.

Being a woman is fairly self-evident. A girl grows up, and displays her figure to the world. But it seems a man has to define himself, argue Wheeler and West. In a key phrase, a man has to prove his masculinity. And he has to do that proving - which we could rephrase in its original meaning, as testing - over and over again.

High on the list of causes of death in midlife are suicide; land transport accidents; accidental drowning; lung cancer; and assault, said the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It also found thatAustralian men aged 25 to 64 die of coronary heart disease at more than four times the rate of women. Men of colour are particularly vulnerable. The same source said that women over 85 suffer more from dementia and Alzheimer's disease than men at the same age; that is, if men survive that long.

Advertisement

But let us come back to the arena of sport, where we started. As if their lives were not threatening enough, men are also well over-represented in dangerous sports. The lure of adulation from the crowd, and the admiration of men and women, is too strong for them, to say nothing of the financial rewards. In rugby the worst risk is spinal injuries from scrums. One hundred and ten rugby players have been paralysed in the UK playing rugby, Khaleeli found. She quoted a professor at Leeds University who said there was an even more dangerous brand of football: gridiron. One study she cites of 35 former US professional football players found that all but one had brain injuries. Michael Messner argued that American football was one of the most dangerous games, severe head injuries being one of the most worrying patterns in the game. In a book called Out of Play, Messner quotes Jack Tatum, nicknamed 'The Assassin'. Tatum seemed perplexed that he was being blamed for breaking some guy's neck in two places:

It wasn't the first time a guy got paralyzed in football, so it really wasn't that unusual.

As long as the guy's on the football field, you're supposed to hit him.

And now we have our own Australian boy-who-is-making-it-in-America, Jarryd Hayne. He's had apparent success in leaving southwest Sydney, joining a team and playing in American football. His will be the money, the power, and the glory, his will be the constant media commentary on his every step and feint as he charges down the football field. I hope he knows the risks.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

20 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Dr Peter West is a well-known social commentator and an expert on men's and boys' issues. He is the author of Fathers, Sons and Lovers: Men Talk about Their Lives from the 1930s to Today (Finch,1996). He works part-time in the Faculty of Education, Australian Catholic University, Sydney.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Peter West

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Peter West
Article Tools
Comment 20 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy