(Young) Men behaving badly: Dangerous masculinities and the risk of drowning in aquatic leisure activities

Abstract

Participation in aquatic leisure and recreation activities is generally perceived as a positive indicator of a healthy lifestyle, yet it can have fatal consequences, especially for males. This paper uses the notion of ‘dangerous masculinities’ to help explain heightened risk of drowning among young men during their aquatic leisure activity. The paper draws on data obtained from several New Zealand studies based on surveys (for example, the New Zealand Youth Water Safety Survey 2003). While use of such evidence in sociological analysis is unusual, its value in providing baseline information on a widespread societal problem is not intrinsically implausible in cultural studies research. Evidence of practices and beliefs that put young men at greater risk during aquatic activity abounds. For example, male youth were twice as likely as female youth to dive headfirst into an unknown depth of water (males 13%, females 6%) and swim outside a patrolled area at a surf beach (males 24%, females 12%). Few previous studies have looked at aquatic leisure as a gendered activity even though aquatic leisure is a primary site for masculinization because of its inherent risk taking, its hazards and dangers, and its often very public challenge to one's physicality. By using aquatic leisure activity as an empirical site for exploring the connections between dominant versions of what it means to be male and its potential impact on male drowning, it is hoped that those charged with researching leisure and recreation activities and with engaging in the prevention of drowning will be better informed.