Resumo

LYRA, Jorge; MEDRADO, Benedito; BARRETO, Alexandre Franca  e  AZEVEDO, Mariana. Men and gender: challenges in the construction of a health policy agenda. BIS, Bol. Inst. Saúde (Impr.) [online]. 2012, vol.14, n.1, pp. 07-15. ISSN 1518-1812.

This article results from the reflections developed in the context of a broader research entitled “Men in Health Public Services: Breaking Cultural, Institutional and Individual Barriers” (Homens nos serviços públicos de saúde: rompendo barreiras culturais, institucionais e individuais), carried out in three Brazilian capitals of different areas (Recife/PE, São Paulo/SP and Florianópolis/SC). In this article we present the analysis of interviews conducted with health managers and professionals who work at the metropolitan area of Recife. Taking as an initial point the female gender perspective, we tried to discuss men and masculinity in the context of health public services, building a historical and political track based on the articulation between gender, feminism, masculinities and health policies. Afterwards, we situated methodologically this study, adopting an angle of a broader research, through the analysis of health professionals’ speeches. Analysing the findings, we considered the senses and practices that structure theoretically and politically men and masculinities in public services, usually taken as less important and an intermediate strategy for women health. Eventually, we highlight that it is still necessary to advance in senses and practices related to health in order to change the configurations and relations of gender towards the social transformation, inspired by the female gender perspective.

Palavras-chave : Men; Masculinities; Gender; Feminism; Health policies.