Masculinity Is Killing Men — And No One’s Talking About It

There is a worrying trend with the gender equity narrative being exclusively framed on the rights and outcomes for women and girls. The key word here is exclusively. Fairness in outcomes for women and girls is absolutely core to a gender equitable world but not at the exclusion of fairness in outcomes for men and boys.

The trend has gone so far that the gender equity movement calls for men to be ‘allies’. There are even training and sponsorship programs centred on the concept. Gender equity is concerned with fairness in rights, opportunities and outcomes for people of all genders and considers the starting point of men and women on different issues. Allyship on the topic of gender equity is therefore everyone’s business.

There are serious societal, health and economic issues which disproportionately affect women and girls including the unpaid care load, the gender pay gap, family and domestic violence, workplace harassment, reproductive health access and leadership underrepresentation to name a few.

There are also lesser acknowledged serious societal, health and economic issues which disproportionality affect men. They are discussed in order of what I believe are the least known to the most:

Men account for 95% of workplace fatalities in Australia (Safework Australia, 2024). How do we reduce the overall number and the cause of the inequity – namely men working in higher risk roles and industries?

Only 7% of sole or majority child custody cases are awarded to Dads (Australian Institute of Families, 2019). Of course, there are plenty of other factors at play, but I know countless good men who are battling the system which defaults to favouring women.

Men are more likely to experience social isolation, and middle-aged men are three times more likely to feel high-level loneliness than men aged over 65 (Healthy Male, 2023). I wouldn’t wish social isolation on anyone and have no doubt it fuels some of the other gendered issues.

Enduring social and cultural gender norms pressure men to be the breadwinner – impacting the ability have a work/life blend, and further perpetrating other gendered health problems of stress, isolation and mental health.

Men are disproportionality represented in incarceration rates, 92% of the Australian prison population to be precise (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2023). Being imprisoned is an outcome, what is going on with our men which is leading to that outcome and how can we do better as a society? Prevention is better than the cure.

Boys are lagging in educational attainment with lower literacy rates and almost 10% lower year 12 retention rates (Australian Institute for Health and Welfare, 2022). Yet again, this no doubt is perpetrating other gendered issues such as occupational segregation and mental health.

Men die on average 4-6 years earlier than women globally (United Nations, 2024). That’s 1000 days less to spend with loved ones, doing things you love and leaving a legacy. I am not ok with that for my husband and sons.

Men account for 75% of suicides in Australia (Australian Institute for Health and Welfare, 2023). This is another outcome of a system and society failing our boys and men, how do we reduce the overall number and the disproportionate effect?

Men and women experience mental health challenges at around the same rate, but men are half as likely to seek help (American Journal of Men’s Health 2020). Mental health is a gender-neutral issue so how can we normalise accessing support and meet men where they’re at?

At present, many men believe that gender equity is a zero-sum game. With a narrative which ignores the serious barriers to men thriving, I don’t blame them. If we want to achieve true gender equity, we need to shine a light on the issues effecting all genders and take action to break down barriers for all of us to thrive. Firstly, because it is true to the principle of gender equity and secondly because these gendered issues are deeply connected and related. If we want more women to elevate into leadership roles, we need men to take on more of the unpaid care load. If we want to improve men’s mental health and suicide rates, we need women to lean in and play our part in breaking down those harmful social norms.

I am blessed to be surrounded by incredible men in my home, social and work life who are true ambassadors of the gender equity cause and are loud and proud on seeking better outcomes for women and girls. So, in the interest of fairness, I felt compelled to put pen to paper and highlight the inequity experienced by our men and boys and remind you all that gender equity is everyone business.