Manliness: A Disease Seeping Through

We are about to reach last phase of “Movember”. It’s that time of year when men around the globe grow out their moustaches to raise awareness for men’s health.

But beyond the playful facial hair, there's a deeper conversation we need to have. This November, let’s strip away the facade of "manliness" and address the health issues men often ignore in the name of strength and invincibility.

Society has long pushed the idea that "real men" are tough, resilient, and never show weakness. We’ve all seen it—the dad who insists he's fine despite clear signs of illness, the friend who dismisses chronic fatigue as "just stress," or the uncle who brushes off chest pain with a casual wave of the hand. But let’s be real: this isn’t just a quirk. It’s a dangerous mindset that leads men to ignore warning signs, delay doctor visits, and ultimately compromise their health.

The pressure to “tough it out” isn't just a male problem anymore. This mindset has seeped into the lives of women, kids, and entire communities, urging everyone to downplay their well-being in the name of strength.

Consider a compelling study published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers followed over 20,000 individuals for nearly 30 years, exploring how early expressions of "manliness" impacted long-term health. Interestingly, they didn’t measure “manliness” directly but instead asked participants questions like, “How often do you cry?”,  “How often do you wear seatbelt” , “Have you ever been arrested”  or  “How often do you exercise?” These seemingly simple questions were combined into a “manliness score” to assess how traditional behaviors linked to societal expectations influenced health outcomes.

The study revealed a startling trend: men who scored higher on the “manliness” scale were less likely to admit to health issues like hypertension or high cholesterol, even when lab tests confirmed these conditions. Essentially, the pressure to appear strong and unbothered often led them to deny or hide their health problems. This denial doesn’t just hurt them—it ripples out to families and communities.

This "disease of manliness" — ignoring the mind and body’s signals — affects more than just men. It's now impacting working mothers, young professionals, and anyone trying to "do it all" without showing vulnerability. We need to teach ourselves and our children, especially boys, that true strength isn’t about hiding pain but facing it with courage.

This Movember, let's shift the focus. It’s not about growing a moustache; it’s about growing awareness. True strength lies not in enduring discomfort but in acknowledging it. Let’s champion the courage to be vulnerable, encourage regular health check-ups, and prioritize self-care for everyone—men, women, and children alike.

As women, partners, and community members, we play a crucial role in this change. Let's remind the men in our lives that seeking help isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. Let’s expand the conversation beyond men’s health to include the broader community, advocating for a culture where taking care of your health is a shared priority.

Let’s make Movember not just a month of moustaches but a movement for meaningful change. True resilience comes from embracing our vulnerabilities and listening to what our bodies are trying to tell us. Because at the end of the day, real strength is about facing the challenges of life with openness, not just a stiff upper lip.

// Faiqa Ali Chughtai