“Preserving Social Manliness”: A Narrative Inquiry of Hegemonic Masculinity and Self-Management of Multimorbidity Among Pakistani Men

Masculinity refers to varied hierarchies of socially constructed descriptions of men’s identity and includes practices that allow the continued dominance of men in society. Previous research focused on examining the intersection of hegemonic masculinity, gender, and single chronic illness. Limited research exists on the intersection of multimorbidity, gender, self-management, and hegemonic masculinity. This study illuminated the interplay of gender, hegemonic masculinity, and self-management of multimorbidity through a narrative inquiry of men’s experiences. Eight interviews were conducted with men between the ages of 36 to 49 who had been living with multimorbidity for 5 to 8 years. Using narrative thematic analysis, four composite case studies were generated to capture how hegemonic masculinity influenced self-management: Concealing Bodily and Affective Struggles, Seeking Help is Dishonorable, Conquering illnesses Symbolizes Strength, and Preserving “Social Manliness”. Men with multimorbidity strived to preserve their hegemonic masculinity by concealing their intrapersonal struggles and avoiding familial and social assistance.