“We’ll talk about our injuries, but we won’t talk about our illnesses, so I think it’s time we do that,” Samuel L. Jackson, chairman of One For The Boys.
Getting a man to a voluntarily go to a medical check-up might even be harder than getting him to ask for directions or admit that he does not have a clue how to assemble something. Why is that? But more importantly, how can we get our fathers, uncles, sons and men we care about to get regular check-ups when ‘nothing is wrong’ so that preventable, treatable diseases can be avoided or cured before they become a big, possibly life-threatening deal.
For many women, by the time they reach puberty, start seeing a gynecologist on a yearly basis for check-ups, and are encouraged to confide in this doctor with ‘embarrassing’ or ‘uncomfortable’ physical issues. Men on the other hand, may not see a doctor until after the fact – when the condition becomes so severe that it impedes their daily life in a big way. What motivates men to see a doctor is oftentimes pain, a lot of it. Another motivating factor? When the ailment prevents them from doing what they want to do. Many doctors share that their male patients do not come to see them until they’ve been enduring excruciating pain for weeks, months or even years.
In many cultures, including ours, men are socially pressured to be strong, tough, resilient, hard workers, good providers, good lovers, partners, husbands, parents, bosses (no pressure!). Perhaps men feel that going to a doctor is a sign of weakness. Actually, it is a sign of strength and decision making, and this is the shift in mentality that we’d like to encourage.
Ladies, have you ever tried to get your man to get a check-up by threatening, nagging, or leaving brochures around the house? Did it work? Let’s see if we can look at it a different way: instead of seeing the doctor as someone who tells a man what to do, he may be more inclined to schedule a visit if he sees it as an act of empowerment, of being in charge of his own health, and demonstrating that he is a responsible man who cares about maintaining the ability to take care of his family or friends.
What if we thought of the doctor, not as a doctor, but more like a specialized consultant. Men accept employing highly-trained lawyers when they need one, they voluntarily use accountants, computer technicians, etc, with no problem. Could we employ doctors the same way?
Most men are in the habit of doing routine maintenance…for their vehicles. Get the tires on car rotated. Clean out the air filter. Change the oil. Put in the premium gasoline in. What if we saw our bodies like a machine that needs regular maintenance?
One For The Boys is a campaign that addresses the problem many men have with delaying getting checked out by their doctor when something is wrong. It encourages men to get regular check-ups, develop better relationships with their doctors, and consider their lifestyle in order to reduce their risk of cancer. It is headed up by none other than Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Douglas. Watch Samuel in this 30 second PSA.
“We’ll talk about our injuries, but we won’t talk about our illnesses, so I think it’s time we do that,” said Jackson, chairman of One For The Boys. Douglas adds: “Hey guys, you look at your body every day. You see something that looks a little strange – check it out. It’s important. You feel a bump somewhere? Check it out. Please. I made that mistake, I don’t want to see you do it. So be a big boy, be a big one of the boys – go for it.”
Don’t know where to start? Schedule a 360 Wellness Consultation at Root Whole Body. We’ll take care of the rest.
More Resources: