Embodied hegemonies: moral dilemmas in the onset of prostate cancer

Abstract

Objective To interpret the meaning attributed to men’s experience regarding their body during the development of prostate cancer. Method Ethnographic study carried out with men and guided by the narrative method and the theoretical frameworks of medical anthropology and the anthropology of masculinities. Information was obtained through recorded interviews, direct observation, and logs from a field journal, which were examined using inductive thematic analysis. Results Seventeen men participated in the study. During the process of falling ill with prostate cancer, the male bodies were ruled by moral experiences that influenced the way men conducted their relationship with their health and multifaceted masculinity, standing for hegemonic cultural principles and identity affirmation moral dilemmas, which were interpreted with the meaning of embodiment. Conclusion During the development of the disease, men experience bodily, social, and moral dilemmas that threaten the hegemonic masculinity. Understanding them can help professionals deal with this population.