Why it's in news
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), consistently find that married men have a disproportionately higher rate of suicide compared to married women, and account for a significant majority of total male suicides.
In 2022, 83,713 married men died by suicide, compared to 30,771 married women. In 2021, the suicide rate for married men was triple that of married women.
Conflict perspective : Focuses on power and inequality. Men face excessive pressure to fulfill societal expectations, like economic success and familial stability. Legal biases and economic hardships exacerbate their stress, leading to feelings of powerlessness.
Symbolic Interactionism perspective: Highlights daily interactions and social meanings. Societal symbols of masculinity pressure men to suppress emotions and project strength. Marital conflicts or feelings of failure in fulfilling roles contribute to isolation and distress.
Feminist Theory: While patriarchy benefits men in some ways, it enforces toxic masculinity, preventing them from seeking help. The burden of meeting societal expectations, like being sole providers, adds to their mental strain.
Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide: Durkheim identified three types of suicide relevant here:
▪️Egoistic suicide - from isolation and lack of emotional connection.
▪️Anomic suicide - due to societal role disruption or instability.
▪️Fatalistic suicide - from feeling trapped in oppressive situations like unhappy marriages.
Why indian married men commit suicide.
1.Traditional Masculinity: Indian society often expects men to be the primary breadwinners and protectors of their families.
2.Marital conflict -Strained Relationships, Marital disputes, including financial disagreements, lack of emotional intimacy, or domestic conflicts,
3.Stigma of Divorce: Men may face societal pressure to stay in unhappy marriages, fearing social judgment or alienation if they seek separation.
4.Family dynamics and isolation -lack of social networks and elder care responsibility.
5.Gender-Based Role Reversal - In families where wives earn more or hold higher social status, some men experience a loss of identity and self-esteem, as societal norms still tie masculinity to being the primary provider.
6.Legal lag - While domestic violence laws heavily favor women, married men experiencing physical or emotional abuse at the hands of their spouses or in-laws often find no legal recourse. ( Men dominant society with women dominant laws )
7.Parental Alienation - after marital disputes or separations men may experience alienation from their children and elder parents.
8.Negative Impact of Social Media - Married men may feel inadequate due to unrealistic portrayals of relationships and success on social media, leading to comparisons and dissatisfaction with their own lives.
9.Anomie and Social Change (Durkheim’s Theory)
🔸Rapid modernization and urbanization have disrupted traditional family structures and community support systems, leaving men isolated.
🔸Changing gender roles and shifting expectations in marriages create confusion and instability for men who grew up with traditional ideals.
10.Social Isolation in Urban Settings -
Urbanization has weakened extended family networks, leaving married men with fewer people to turn to for support during crises. Migration for work also separates men from their communities, increasing loneliness.
11.Marginalization in Mental Health Discourse - Social and governmental focus on women’s empowerment often sidelines the mental health needs of men.
▪️Married men, especially in patriarchal setups, feel their struggles are ignored or minimized.
12.Perceived Erosion of Authority in Marriage - As gender roles shift and women assert more agency within marriages, some men perceive this as a loss of traditional authority, leading to feelings of inadequacy or resentment.
How it impact on society
1.Impact on Children’s Socialization - Children of suicide victims often face stigma, bullying, or exclusion, shaping their identity and social interactions negatively.
2.Increased Gender-Based Tensions - The perceived bias in legal frameworks (e.g., dowry laws, domestic violence laws) creates gender-based tensions, fueling resentment among Men
3.Rise of new social Movement : High suicide rates among married men may trigger awareness campaigns and advocacy for better legal protections, mental health services, and societal reforms.
4.Normalization of Suicide as a Coping Mechanism - As male suicides gain media attention, they may inadvertently normalize suicide as a response to stress, potentially influencing others in similar situations.
5.Erosion of Trust in Institutions - Rising male suicides highlight failures of societal institutions like marriage, family, and the legal system. This erosion of trust can lead to widespread dissatisfaction and demands for systemic change.
6.Increased Focus on Societal Equality- Male suicides reveal the stress created by structural inequalities in gender roles, legal systems, and societal expectations, prompting debates on achieving greater gender balance.
7.Impact on Community Stability - Collective Consciousness (Durkheim): Communities experience a loss of shared values and moral regulation when societal pressures push men to extreme actions.This weakens the community’s overall resilience and solidarity.
8.Breakdown of Social Support Systems - Durkheim’s Anomie Theory: Suicide is a symptom of weakened social cohesion. The death of men due to societal pressures highlights the erosion of traditional support systems, such as extended families and community networks.
9.Disruption of Family Structure - Functionalism Perspective: Families are primary social institutions that ensure stability and continuity. The death of a husband/father disrupts the family structure, leading to economic instability and emotional trauma.
