The COVID-19 pandemic is having far-reaching impacts on every aspect of society in countries across the world, making clear the importance of applying a gendered – and in this case, a masculinities – lens to the pandemic’s impact.

Based on critical masculinity theory and an extensive review of publications ranging from newspaper articles to academic research, this new report reveals a number of important linkages among men, masculinities, and the impacts of COVID-19.

The report explores topics including: how men are navigating health issues such as risk, trauma, grief, and loneliness; what the gendered effects of the pandemic are on livelihoods, care, and relationships at home (including on men’s use of violence); and how particular forms of “masculinist” leadership – emphasizing dominance rather than cooperation – exacerbate conflict and undermine human rights. The report also sets out principles and recommendations for policymakers and other decision-makers to take masculinities into account in response to the crisis.

Ruxton, S., & Burrell, S. R. (2020). Masculinities and COVID-19: Making the Connections. Washington, DC: Promundo-US.