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Although men in all socioeconomic groups are doing poorly in terms of health, some especially high risk groups include men of low socioeconomic status of all racial/ethnic backgrounds, low socioeconomic status minority men, and middle class Black men. Multiple factors contribute to the elevated health risks of men. These include economic marginality, adverse working conditions, and gendered coping responses to stress, each of which can lead to high levels of substance use, other health damaging behaviors, and an aversion to health protective ehaviors. What are the factors responsible for the higher rates of morbidity and mortality among men? Beliefs about
masculinity and manhood that are deeply rooted in culture and supported by social institutions play a role in shaping the
behavioral patterns of men in ways that have consequences for health. Men are socialized to project strength, individuality,
autonomy, dominance, stoicism, and physical aggression, and to avoid demonstrations of emotion or vulnerability that could be
construed as weakness. These cultural orientations and structural opportunities combine to increase health risk.
The 2000 Census estimates the minority population of Vermont to be 3.2% (19,248). Of this group, 7,962 are males, 18 and older, who identify as: being of more than one race (2,338); Hispanic (1,753); Asian (1,483); Black (1,071); Native American/Indian (857); or other (393) . Using recent research, which estimates that between 5%-9% of males are predominately gay, Vermont would have 398-716 men of color who are gay/bisexual. Unfortunately, there are no good estimates for determining the number who are transgender-male to female. Heterogeneous racial, ethnic and non-racial cultural groups represent Vermont's minority population. These include and are not limited to:
An African American population which includes formerly urban African Americans as well as immigrants from the Caribbean, and Africa; An American Indian population which includes members of Federally recognized tribes and descendants of the aboriginal Abenaki population of Vermont; A substantial gay, lesbian/bisexual/transgender population. Source: "Vermont's Cultural, Racial and Ethnic Diversity" prepared by Corbett P. Sionainn, MSW for the Vermont Office of Minority Health-March 1999 |
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Last Modified: October 1, 2003.
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