Citation

Lemle R, Mishkind ME. J. Subst. Abuse Treat. 1989; 6(4): 213-222.

Affiliation

Alcohol Clinic, Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2687480

Abstract

Alcohol use--and abuse--has always been more prevalent among males than among females. The sex role prescription for men to affirm their masculinity by drinking is a major determinant of this sex difference. This paper reviews the intricate interrelationship between masculinity and both social and alcoholic drinking. A large body of evidence indicates that social drinking is a primary cultural symbol of manliness; portrayals in the media strengthen this association. Less evidence exists to connect masculinity issues with alcoholic dependence, but there has been much speculation: Three psychodynamic theories of alcoholism--the repressed homosexuality, dependency, and power theories--hypothesized that men who drink addictively have the most fragile masculine identities. The 1980s have witnessed a widespread recognition of the dangers of equating drinking and manliness, and societal changes suggest that drinking may be gradually losing its masculine aura.

Language: en