I'm wary of this assumption/connection: "The report finds that 15% of all sampled men were both in the "Man Box" (endorsing restrictive masculine norms) and owned a firearm (SAMR, p. 50). This striking correlation suggests that for a significant portion of men, adherence to these norms may involve an endorsement of using violence to achieve goals." I say that because I am married to a man (in this 60s) who likely endorses the "Man Box" (in large part b/c when & where & how he grew up) & owns guns, but not at all because he endorses violence to achieve goals -- it's b/c he's a hunter. As are many of the men around here, who also both endorse the "Man Box" & own firearms. I agree it's a data point worth paying attention too, but I think we need to tease out the threads a bit more - & suspect that there are at least 2 distinct strains of men who endorse the "Man Box" & own guns.
Yes, it may be a little bit of a reach. This is why I brought in the Wintemute study...
"For instance, gun carriers were 11 to 19 percentage points more likely to report that force or violence is justified to advance a political objective compared with non-carriers. These findings converge with other trends, including sharp increases in gun purchases and firearm violence between 2015 and 2021, and during COVID-19, adding to a combustible mix amidst civil turmoil and increasing political polarization."
More analysis and frankly robust data are needed to better understand the associations.
I'm wary of this assumption/connection: "The report finds that 15% of all sampled men were both in the "Man Box" (endorsing restrictive masculine norms) and owned a firearm (SAMR, p. 50). This striking correlation suggests that for a significant portion of men, adherence to these norms may involve an endorsement of using violence to achieve goals." I say that because I am married to a man (in this 60s) who likely endorses the "Man Box" (in large part b/c when & where & how he grew up) & owns guns, but not at all because he endorses violence to achieve goals -- it's b/c he's a hunter. As are many of the men around here, who also both endorse the "Man Box" & own firearms. I agree it's a data point worth paying attention too, but I think we need to tease out the threads a bit more - & suspect that there are at least 2 distinct strains of men who endorse the "Man Box" & own guns.
Thanks for the comment Jennifer.
Yes, it may be a little bit of a reach. This is why I brought in the Wintemute study...
"For instance, gun carriers were 11 to 19 percentage points more likely to report that force or violence is justified to advance a political objective compared with non-carriers. These findings converge with other trends, including sharp increases in gun purchases and firearm violence between 2015 and 2021, and during COVID-19, adding to a combustible mix amidst civil turmoil and increasing political polarization."
More analysis and frankly robust data are needed to better understand the associations.