Patience Castleton, Zohra S. Lassi, Mumtaz Begum and Zelalem Mengesha
Gender shapes how we view and experience our health, especially when it comes to sexual and reproductive health. From childhood, men and women are often taught different stereotypes and norms around sexuality. These beliefs influence how we think, talk and even seek care for our sexual and reproductive health needs.
While this is true globally, strict gender norms are particularly visible within refugee and migrant communities, moving from low to high-income countries. Research shows that traditional gender roles, especially rigid ideals of masculinity, often cause men to perceive sexual and reproductive health as ‘unmasculine’ or a concern only for women. This mindset limits refugee and migrant men from accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
Open dialogue about sex and sexuality is often limited or considered inappropriate for men in some cultures. This limits men’s opportunities to learn and share their problems with family, community leaders and peers and makes it harder for them to adapt to the often more liberal norms in their host countries.
Global migration is on the rise. Almost 3.6% of the world’s population is now classified as migrants and high-income countries host about 25% of refugees. Along with migration comes diverse cultural and gender norms, which can deepen sexual and reproductive health inequalities. Refugee and migrant men maybe less aware of contraception and sexually transmitted infections, compared to non-migrants. Yet, current research has focused disproportionately on women, leaving major gaps in understanding the sexual and reproductive health needs of men.
To address this gap, a global scoping review was conducted to examine how gender roles affect men’s experience of sexual and reproductive health in the context of migration to high-income countries. Three major themes emerged:
“Depleted masculinity”: For many refugee and migrant men, migration brought a perceived loss of power. When unable to find suitable work to provide for their families, men reported feelings of inadequacy, helplessness, and failure. This loss of the traditional provider role created what researchers termed “depleted masculinity”.
Sex and intimacy: Migration often presented men with new sexual opportunities. Some felt pressure to conform to these more liberal norms, even when they didn’t want to, for fear of appearing “less masculine.” Others, however, avoided exploring sexuality altogether to avoid cultural disapproval or community judgment.
Accessing sexual and reproductive health care in a new country: Practical barriers played a role in accessing care. Financial hardship made it difficult for many men to access even basic health care. Language barriers, low confidence in speaking with doctors, and fears about confidentiality when using translators further discouraged men from seeking sexual and reproductive health services.
These findings highlight an urgent need for sexual and reproductive care and policies that are culturally relevant and inclusive of men’s experiences. The review recommends that accurate, culturally appropriate sexual and reproductive health information be integrated into settlement and orientation packages given to migrants upon arrival.
By ensuring that men have access to the right information and the confidence to seek care, we can promote open communication around sexual and reproductive health, reduce health inequalities, and support the wellbeing of refugee and migrant men and their families.
Patience Castleton and Zohra S. Lassi are attached to the School of Public Health and the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide. Patience is also a member of PHAA International Health Special Interest Group (SIG), and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion SIG. Zohra Lassi is also a Co-Convenor of PHAA Women’s Health SIG. Mumtaz Begum is from the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide. Zelalem Mengesha is attached to the Health Research Institute, University of Canberra and is a member of PHAA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion SIG.
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