Do Hong Kong men ‘suffer in silence’ when it comes to workplace equality?
Expert says financial factors contribute most stress to working men, while other issues may not be raised because of stereotypes and stigma
Working men in Hong Kong are more stressed about job security than women, as men are still widely regarded as the breadwinner in the family, an expert on gender research and psychology has said.
Assistant Professor Ivy Wong Wang at the University of Hong Kong’s department of psychology said although many of the risk factors that affect the mental health of men and women were similar, the gender stereotype of men as the main source of family income had put an added dimension of pressure on them.
“According to the World Health Organisation, some major factors [contributing to stress levels in men] include an absence of time structure, lack of social contact, lack of purpose, lack of a social identity associated with the employment, low autonomy, job insecurity, physical insecurity, and peer salary differences. Some factors, such as sexual harassment, are more often associated with women,” she said.
“Long hours, inflexible work schedules and a family-unfriendly corporate culture affect working women more because, despite significant improvements in gender equality, women are still playing the major caretaking role for children,” Wong added.
“Men, still bearing a heavier financial burden, may experience relatively more stress related to job insecurity, unemployment and low pay.”
