Rheanna Greenberg Bello, Rachel Jarret, Tali Satlow, Zoe Volchik
In the present study, we examined men’s perceptions and non-male identifying people’s perceptions of a male birth control pill. We also examined participants’ attitudes toward male gender role norms and sexism and noted if they were correlated with participants’ approval level of the pill’s use. Participants (N =159) completed an online survey which measured men’s willingness to take a male birth control pill and participants’ perceptions of the pill, masculinity, and sexism. We predicted that participants’ perceptions of male role norms would significantly correlate with their approval of this pill’s use; specifically, the more the participant clings to traditional masculinity, the less willing they would be to approve of this pill. We also predicted that men’s willingness to use this pill would be less than women’s inclination for men to use it. Finally, we predicted that single women would be more in favor of the pill’s use than women in relationships. The results supported our hypotheses, suggesting that men who are more rigid in upholding traditional masculinity will be less likely to take a birth control pill. Women tend to be more likely to think that men taking a birth control pill will have a positive effect on their life if they are single, rather than in a relationship. Women believed that men taking a daily birth control pill would have a more positive impact on society and themselves than men did, therefore women were more in favor of men taking male birth control pills than men were.
How can we destigmatize the male birth control pill so that it is similar to taking the female birth control pill?
What type of things could be done to make the male birth control pill not have a reputation for being “feminine” but instead just a pill?
Why did men think the pill would improve society more than it would improve their own lives? One would hope that most men would want to in order to protect themselves/their partners from having to deal with the potential of pregnancy. I find it sad that views of toxic masculinity and the ability for men to leave and not participate in raising their children very sad and indicative of the extent of what we as a society have to fix.
It’s interesting to look at the difference in attitudes between genders in terms of how male birth control would benefit and individual’s life. Why do women have such a positive outlook for it and see it as a huge benefit? While men either don’t see a benefit to it or generally don’t see it having a positive effect on their lives?
This was fascinating and very well done research. I took part in survey and as a man, it made me question my own beliefs and attitudes toward the subject. My biggest concern about taking a pill would be the health risks associated. How long has the male pill been around and studied for long-term affects (as compared to the female pill)? Also, it would be interesting to see the gender splits on other primary birth control types like barrier methods and surgical methods. Great job!!
What would it take to get a majority of men to support a birth control pill?
It is incredible to see the strong negative correlation between masculinity and willingness to take the pill.