Most Men Fit Into These Three Romance Categories, Study Shows

A new study shows that heterosexual men typically fit into one of three distinct categories of masculinity when it comes to romantic relationships.

Researchers at Canada’s University of British Columbia held wide-ranging interviews with 92 heterosexual men between the ages of 19 and 43 from 14 separate countries. Questions were engineered to determine how they behave in romantic partnerships. The purpose of the study was to pinpoint how mens thinking has evolved as traditional gender roles change shape.

“We set out to understand how different types of masculinities shape men’s relationships and their mental health,” Dr. John Oliffe, a professor of nursing at UBC, stated in a press release announcing the results of the study.

“Neo-traditionalist,” the first personality type defined in the study, is someone who “largely follows traditional gender roles, such as being the provider and protector in the relationship.” The second, “egalitarian,” are people who “seek a more equal partnership, with emphasis on mutuality and measurable give and take.” The third, dubbed “progressive,” are the “men [who] work on building gender equity in the partnership through regular, purposeful conversations with their partner to adjust who does what.”

Only 24 percent of participants were defined as “neo-traditionalist.” More than half of those men “purposefully distanced themselves from traditional masculine norms,” showing that there is an awareness in younger generations of so-called “toxic masculinity.” 26 percent of those interviewed fell into the “progressive” camp. The most common personality result among those studied was “egalitarian.”

Men who engaged in social justice and gender equality causes reported an improvement in their mental health. At the same time, these participants reported feeling ostracized and criticized by other men for these beliefs, which could then negatively impact mental health. Researchers also reported that men who fell into the “egalitarian” category still struggled with equally dividing the household chores with their female partner.

“While men are becoming more involved in promoting gender equity, little is known about how younger men work to build partnerships in their private lives,” Dr. Oliffe remarked. “With this research, we hope we have helped map that uncharted space and point a way forward for healthier relationships that promote the health of men, their partners and families.”