An exploration of Francophone and Francophile men’s representation of prostate cancer: An ethnographic study

Abstract

Background. Worldwide, men’s health and wellness promotion employ various models and conceptions of masculinity. Masculinities are subjectively experienced and influenced by social differences such as race, class, and sexual orientation. Largely because it threatens men’s gender identity and sexuality, prostate cancer is a prominent and sensitive health issue. How men think, speak about, and represent prostate cancer is affected by their cultural, social, moral, and religious values and beliefs. Methods. Based on data from a larger ethnographic study, this article reports on Francophone and Francophile immigrant men’s experiences and representations of prostate cancer.  Data were collected from interviews with 19 men in the cities of Gonesse and Paris, France, using a tool inspired by (core) social representation theory, and submitted to content analysis. Results. Similar views between the two groups of men suggest that the representation of prostate cancer prevalent in French society held more sway over the men’s attitudes and thoughts than any alternative cultural views from the immigrants’ particular ethnic backgrounds. Conclusions. The confirmed view of prostate cancer as a disease with neither a positive nor a negative meaning offered opportunities for the men to re-evaluate their lives and plan their future with realistic expectations.