Mental illness and Hegemonic Masculinity in Understanding Homosexuality (Essay Sample)

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Mental illness and Hegemonic Masculinity in Understanding Homosexuality
Mental Illness
Mental illness refers to sickness that affect the manner, in which an individual conducts him or herself, feel, reasons, as well as how they associate with others and his or her environment. These conditions take different forms, result from varying causes, and cannot be based on individual pathology only. The causes that may lead to such diseases include; one’s genetic background and history of the family, individual’s encounters such as abuse and stress.
Other biological causes may include distressing injuries of the brain, exposure of expectant mothers to poisonous products and viruses, other medical ailments such as cancer, and consumption of toxic drugs (Thompson, 56). Low self-esteem, seclusion, neglect, annoyance, poor interaction ability, and insufficiency feelings are also possible causes of mental illnesses. These aspects may not necessarily be an individual’s pathology status. In addition, most mental conditions emerge as a result of several factors rather than one of them.
A person may developa mental disorder which is adjustable due to stressful occurrences such as natural disasters; for instance, earthquakes, crises; for instance, accidents, diagnosis of a fatal illness, loss of working contracts, demise of close persons, or abuse of substances. This type of disorder adjusts within a shorter period of treatment or therapy. Gender and sexual dysfunction conditions may also lead to emergence of mental illnesses (Radoilska, 129).
The theory of attachment suggests that mental disorders originate from early childhood care offered, reactions to hazardous circumstances, and attempts to find satisfaction in reproductive behavior in adults. These behaviors observed in childhood affects the mental health of the individual. Those who experience negative impacts are more likely to encounter mental illnesses.
According to the social control perspective, deviance is as a result of weakened or loose connection between the person and a group of people to the social links. In regard to this perspective, a person’s mind of how others view them and their expectations. This guide their commitment to the norms of the society. Therefore, socialization is crucial in developing conventionality to rules that govern a society. Deviant behavior occurs when this conventionality is weakened or broken.
Deviance is acquired through interaction with people around the person, according to differential association principle. It is through the communication and interaction with their age mates and others that a person absorbs values, objectives, attitudes, and methods of deviant behavior (Thompson, 94). The higher the regularity and intensity of one’s experience in the deviant environment, the more the chances of portraying deviant behavior.
An individual’s social life contributes significantly to their mental health. The conditions one lives in, where one lives, works, as well as employment status and pressure in the workplace are crucial to one’s mental health. On the other hand, handling shocking encounters highly facilitate person’s mental health. This could be as a result of divorce, demise, or different forms of abuse.
From the labeling concept, the humiliation related to the disorder is a crucial problem. The labeling of a mental illness paints an image of negativity, inclined stereotypes towards the affected person by others and by him or herself. These stereotypes and negative images results in discrimination and devaluation. This aspect leads to interference of various fields of life, such as access to resources, both economic and social, and good feelings of general welfare (Moy, 39).
The humiliation and rejection in the society associated with having a mental disorder has become a weighty social challenge. Albeit the level of stigmatization has decreased with time in some aspects, it is still significant to address it further. One of the most d disregarded aspects is that mentally ill individuals become victims of the negative attitude of the society.
The structural strain theory views the source of deviance as the difference between the goals set in a community and the methods outlined to achieve them. The society consists of the social and cultural aspects. The cultural aspect offers the goals to be accomplished while the social aspect outlines the ways to achieve the targets. In a properly integrated community the targets and the means to achieve them balance. However, if this is not the case, then deviance occurs (Tausig, 71). As a result, an individual falls into deviance behavior.
Every individual needs a social connection to feel accepted, supported and cared for especially in times of emotional depressions. Recent researches indicate that social support of those individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses is crucial in their treatment and recovery processes.
Persons who experience mental health conditions testify that social life, especially stigmatization and discrimination; significantly make their recovery and life difficult. In most cases, they are treated with discrimination by the society, employers, relatives and even friends. It becomes hard for the mentally ill to secure jobs, sustain long term and stable relationships, attain moderate housing, and be involved in communal activities in their societies. This is as a result of stereotyping of the effects of mental illnesses among the people. Most people think that those affected are perilous and fierce. This leads to worse conditions of the mentally ill. It delays their recovery process, and attainment of treatment (Horowitz, 57).
The society, including relatives ought to understand the behavior of the mentally ill individuals. Sometimes they respond to situations with uneasiness, increased heartbeat, variations of extreme joy and sorrow, and depression. Other behaviors involve hallucinations and delusions. Their eating habits may also change significantly. The caregivers need to understand these behaviors and consequently cope with them.
A person who suffers from mental illness may behave in a bizarre manner, especially if the society does not understand the mental condition. For instance, a mentally ill individual may hide in a closet on hearing a helicopter or produce irritating sounds. This requires that the society or relatives familiarize with his condition in order to facilitate his or her treatment and recovery.
Efficient treatment involves several aspects. They include; psychotherapy by a professional, decent lifestyle, prescription of drugs, family and societal support (Whitaker, 86). Deficiency of any of the mentioned factors leads to delayed recovery as well as severe experiences.
Consequently, they resort to communal seclusion, labeling, unemployment, indecent housing, embarrassment, and unemployment. Due to negative attitudes, the persons with mental problems are usually hated, rejected, encounter oppression, and violence. The consequent responses to shame and rejection include secrecy and depression. Confidentiality acts as a major barrier to diagnose and treatment of the mental conditions at almost all levels.
This signifies the importance of participation of the society in the recovery process of those diagnosed with mental illnesses. Both the relatives and the rest of the community should appreciate the infected individual, treat them in a humane manner, and assist them in recovering. This is only possible if the society is free of stigmatization and discernment.
These negative aspects would be reversed through rigorous campaigns on sensitizing people on ways to associate with the mentally ill persons. The government should also formulate policies that regulate both direct and indirect discrimination of the mentally ill in areas such as work premises, public facilities, transportation facilities, education, and other aspects of the association.
Conclusion
Mental illnesses result from multiple causes and cannot be solely attached to an individual pathology. Factors such as neglect, annoyance, poor ability to interact with others and discrimination plays a crucial role in causing mental disorders.
Most recent researches also indicate that the environment also contribute to variation of the genes which could lead to a mental disorder. In varying surrounding some genes are either expressed or not. These defects could be possibly passed to future generations. Therefore, social as well as the environmental factors cannot be assumed whenever one considers mental illnesses.
Hegemonic Masculinity in Understanding Homosexuality
Hegemonic masculinity involves the conviction that there exists a socially acceptable ultimate comportment of the male gender. The concept implies that the community inclines in promoting males’ attempt to govern or control females as well as other males. This tends to analyze the power hierarchy that exists in communities.
The theory of hegemonic masculinity has been widely applied in research fields involving sexuality, gay researches, and criminology as well as prison studies. However, few attempts have been made to prove its theoretical merit (Howson, 73). The modern trends in the society have posed important challenges based on sexual orientation and human sexuality. In most cases, homosexuality has been widely focused on besides heterosexuality and bisexuality.
The interrelation of varying sexual categories is characterized by the male dominance over women globally. This offers a basis for an argument on men’s interactions that explain the hegemonic masculinity observed in all communities. Hegemonic masculinity, therefore, elaborates the interactions of minor masculinities and in regard to females. These varying masculinities interact to form a patri...