Between the Gang and Rou: Embodied Experiences and Multiple Practices of Chinese Men with Infertility

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Cultural Studies
• Men's Health

Background:

• Infertility significantly impacts men's lives and identities.
• Masculinity is culturally constructed and varies across societies.
• Chinese cultural concepts of masculinity, like "gang" and "rou," offer a unique lens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the transformation of masculinity among Chinese men experiencing infertility.
• To understand how cultural dimensions of masculinity (hardness and softness) are negotiated during the infertility journey.
• To investigate the interplay between embodied experiences, cultural factors, and male identity in the context of infertility.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research methodology.
• Documented embodied experiences and diverse practices of Chinese men with infertility.
• Analysis of how cultural factors shape masculinity throughout the infertility journey.

Main Results:

• Masculinity transformation is a key aspect of the Chinese infertility experience.
• The dimensions of "gang" (hardness) and "rou" (softness) are not mutually exclusive binaries.
• "Gang" and "rou" are interwoven and dynamically transformed within specific life contexts for men with infertility.

Conclusions:

• Masculinity is malleable and multifaceted, particularly for men facing infertility.
• Cultural and individual life experiences dynamically shape and reshape male identity.
• The study highlights the complex and context-dependent nature of masculinity in contemporary China.