Gender And Suicide In Australia

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The Relevance of Gender on Suicide (in Australia)

Gender is a controversial societal issue in present day throughout the world. Our Gender helps us to identify ourselves within the world and culture in which we live. We embody our genders to such an extent that we no longer see what is unusual around us, and it becomes taken for granted; the common ideas that we have about gender are un natural, in that nothing makes us behave for example “like a man” or “like a woman” and its is all a result of culture (Blatterer, 2016). Gender identity involves all the various meanings that are applied to oneself on the basis of one's gender identification. In turn, these self-meanings are a source of motivation for gender-related behavior (Burke, 1980). …show more content…

Men are stereotypically known as masculine, which means, qualities usually associated with a man. Males heightened in their masculinity may be depicted as strong, powerful, largely emotionless, rational, in control, dominate, assertive, ambitious, controlling, and great. In contrast to this women are typically depicted to be the complete opposite of this, soft, gentle, submissive, emotional, and dependent. Although there is considerable cultural variability between sexes in Australia, we chose to focus on gendered differences rather than sexual differences because it is the cultural construction of biological differences. We embody our genders to such an extent that we are part of a gendered world, some of us no longer have the capacity to recognize what is unusual, and what is taken for granted (Blatterer, 2016). Masculinity for example can be described innate and residing in the biological composition of the male, it is the result of androgens or the possession of having a penis, masculinity is deeply embedded in the heart and psyche within the male, and is ever changing, its meaning constantly shifts internally and externally for men (Kimmel, …show more content…

Through this binary the development of the homogenous male has arisen, the homogenous male by definition is being young, white, married, heterosexual, successful, urban, college educated, of protestant religious beliefs, fully employed, of good complexion, weight and height, and physically active in sports (Kimmel, 2001). In Australia there are significant differences in suicide rates between young men and women. Male deaths account for 19.9% and 13.1% of female deaths ages 16-19 year. Furthermore young men and women aged between 20-24 years account for 26.1% of male deaths and 11.6% of female (Gilchrist and Sullivan
, 2006). The significant differences between male and female mortality arises serious concern for Australia and society as a whole. Men and even young men are having constantly aim to replicate the homogenous

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