Male farmers can view seeking help as an ‘admission of failure’ and a betrayal of a masculine image of themselves, with a new study indicating many feel the need to "put their bodies on the line" as part of their work. The research, called “That’s Me I am the Farmer of the Land”: Exploring Identities, Masculinities, and Health Among Male Farmers’ in Ireland’ and published in the American Journal of Men’s Health, involved input from 11 focus groups of male and female farmers conducted from November 2019 to March last year. Farmers are wondering ‘what will the neighbours think of this?’ You don’t want the community knowing about it." Lead author and Teagasc Walsh Scholar Conor Hammersley, said: “Many farmers view seeking help as an ‘admission of failure’ and a betrayal of a masculine image of themselves as men and farmers. They tend to prioritise farm work and the health of their animals over their own health and safety.”https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15579883211035241

Source: Irish Examiner September 10, 2021 22:52 UTC