The Weight of Masculinity: An Exploratory Analysis of Male Technical Workers in Karawang

Derri Agusta Putra; Akbar Rifqi Farisan

doi:10.47747/ijmhrr.v7i1.3361

Authors

Derri Agusta Putra Universitas Indonesia Membangun
Akbar Rifqi Farisan Universitas Indonesia Membangun

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47747/ijmhrr.v7i1.3361

Keywords:

Masculinity, Technical Sector, Help-seeking Behavior

Abstract

The technical and engineering sectors have long been constructed as male-dominated environments that reinforce specific hegemonic masculinity norms. While these norms prioritize resilience and logic, they often create significant barriers to mental health help-seeking and emotional expression. This study aims to explore the construction of masculinity among technical employees and how these gendered expectations influence their mental well-being and coping strategies. Using a qualitative approach, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with three employee groups. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Four major themes emerged: first, Physical and mental resilience as an ideal standard; second, the logic-emotion dichotomy and the "baper" (oversensitive) stigma; third, Kinship and collectivity as survival mechanisms under work pressure; and, lastly, navigating vulnerability through self-reliant coping strategies. Adherence to traditional masculinity, characterized by emotional restriction and self-reliance, functions as a double-edged sword; it fosters team solidarity but simultaneously facilitates normative male alexithymia, hindering professional help-seeking. These findings underscore the urgency for male-friendly mental health interventions in industrial workplaces to deconstruct the stigma of vulnerability

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