Berlin, Germany, 15th April 2019 – Digital health platform Spring have released a study comparing the coverage of men and women’s health conditions across the US and UK. The study aims to shed light on the deafening silence around men’s health in the media and highlight how outdated masculine ideals silence conversations that could lead to improved self-care and enhanced quality of life. To help remove the stigma, the hashtag #YouAreNotAlone will be used across social media to spark conversation and smash the taboo.
The study firstly identified the top 10 most popular magazines for men and women in both markets according to circulation figures, and then investigated the frequency they discussed or mentioned health topics in their articles. The conditions selected for this study were: hair loss, sexual health (vaginal dryness and libido for women; erectile dysfunction for men), and ageing skin – all prevalent within the general population.
In the wake of the #MeToo movement, conversations about the role and impact of gender ideals in the 21st century have been centre stage in public debate. Often held as a bar for success – these ideals restrict how we express ourselves, the ideals we strive to, and the conversations we find comfortable. Worldwide, it is estimated that half of all men between the age of 40 and 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction, but as this study reveals, health conditions are alarmingly underrepresented in men’s magazines and media discussion.
The following graph highlights the gender disparity in the coverage of health conditions between men and women’s magazines in the UK between January 2017 and March 2019:
The following graph compares the coverage of men and women’s health conditions across US and UK magazines between January 2017 and March 2019:
A full comparative breakdown of the findings is available on the www.gospring.de