The Masculinity Trap

When we think about barriers to healthcare, we often focus on distance or cost. But for men working in oil, gas, and mining camps across Canada, the biggest obstacle might be something far less tangible: the fear of appearing “less than a man.”

The culture in these work camps—what researchers call “rigger culture”—celebrates an extreme form of masculinity. Physical toughness, emotional stoicism, and sexual conquest are valued. Vulnerability? That’s off the table. This hyper-masculine environment creates a perfect storm where seeking sexual health services becomes not just difficult, but potentially damaging to a man’s social standing and identity.

Research shows that men often perceive healthcare-seeking as inherently feminine behavior. For workers in traditionally masculine industries, walking into a clinic can feel like a direct threat to their gender identity. One study found that men feel their masculinity is challenged by medical encounters regardless of their doctor’s gender—it’s about losing control, about admitting you’re not invincible.

“Guy Talk” and the Silence Around Sexual Health

Here’s where it gets interesting: men in these camps do talk about sex—constantly. But when researchers analyzed these conversations, they found something troubling. The discourse revolves around sexual conquest and pleasure, what’s been termed “guy talk.” Missing from these conversations? Anything about STI prevention, testing, or actual sexual health.

This communication pattern isn’t just casual banter—it actively perpetuates harmful stereotypes and keeps men from protecting themselves. Men who avoid discussing sexual health with peers and partners face significantly higher STI risks than those who can have open conversations. The very social bonds that could support healthy behaviors instead reinforce dangerous ones.

When Your Job Site Is Your Social Network

The transient nature of camp work adds another layer of complexity. These men live far from home, separated from their usual social circles for weeks or months at a time. This geographic and social isolation breeds loneliness—and research links this directly to risky sexual behaviors.

In rural communities, men often rely on close peer confidants for health information. But when your entire social network is contained within a hyper-masculine work camp, those strong ties become an echo chamber. The information that circulates reflects and reinforces existing attitudes rather than challenging them.

Meanwhile, traditional rural gender roles often position women as the “health information managers” for their families. Men in these settings aren’t socialized to seek out or share health information—they’re expected to be tough, self-reliant, and stoic about their bodies.

The Real-World Consequences

While awareness campaigns have increased STI testing and diagnosis rates across Canada, young men in resource extraction communities remain particularly vulnerable. Some researchers describe this as the “chlamydia iceberg”—intensive screening is simply revealing the massive scope of existing infections that were previously undetected.

Geographic isolation makes even basic clinic visits a major obstacle. When you’re living in a remote camp with limited time off, getting tested requires planning, transportation, and—most dauntingly—explaining to your boss and coworkers why you need to leave camp.

The stigma is real and pervasive. Young workers perceive STI testing as highly stigmatized behavior, made worse by local social norms. In an environment where everyone knows everyone else’s business, maintaining privacy about sexual health is nearly impossible.

Beyond the Individual: Structural and Systemic Issues

It’s tempting to frame this as an individual problem—men just need to be more responsible, right? But that perspective misses the larger picture. This is fundamentally a structural issue shaped by industry practices, workplace culture, and healthcare delivery models.

The gender segregation in these industries reinforces traditional hierarchies. The dominance of men in positions of power normalizes a culture where the experiences of women and other marginalized groups are suppressed. This isn’t just bad for sexual health—research has repeatedly linked the hyper-masculine culture of resource extraction camps to increased rates of sexual violence, particularly against Indigenous women and girls.

The concept of hegemonic masculinity helps us understand this dynamic. It’s not about individual men being “bad,” but about a cultural system that rewards and celebrates a particular type of masculinity while punishing deviation from that norm.

What Can Actually Change?

The good news? This isn’t inevitable. Researchers and health professionals have identified concrete interventions that could make a real difference:

Redesign healthcare delivery. Instead of expecting workers to come to clinics, bring services to them. Mobile clinics at work camps, extended hours, walk-in services, and direct outreach to workers in their environment can dramatically reduce barriers.

Challenge the culture, not just the individuals. Educational campaigns and peer-to-peer outreach need to promote what researchers call “dialogic masculinity”—a more open, communicative form of manhood that makes seeking help acceptable rather than shameful. But here’s the catch: campaigns that tell men to “man up and take care of yourself” might backfire by reinforcing the very masculine hierarchies we’re trying to dismantle.

Provide confidential support systems. Independent counselors, mental health resources, and advocacy groups within camps can offer workers safe spaces to address sexual health concerns without fear of judgment or retaliation from peers.

Involve employers and policymakers. Require paid health leave, implement comprehensive wellness programs, and hold companies accountable for the cultures they create in their camps. The issue isn’t the concentration of men—it’s the toxic culture that goes unchallenged.

Build better social networks. Encouraging connections between workers who’ve faced similar challenges can help men access health information and support without feeling isolated or ashamed.

Rethinking Masculinity for Better Health

Here’s what’s become clear through this research: gender isn’t fixed. Masculinity is fluid, contextual, and constantly being negotiated. What’s valued on a sports field isn’t the same as what’s needed for healthy relationships. What works in a board meeting isn’t the same as what promotes wellbeing.

The challenge is that interventions need to meet men where they are—acknowledging the multiple forms of masculinity they navigate while also encouraging growth beyond restrictive gender norms. Traditional masculinity can actually be leveraged to promote health, but only if we frame health messages in ways that don’t threaten men’s gender identity.

For instance, instead of presenting sexual health testing as a sign of weakness or promiscuity, we can normalize it as a routine part of being responsible and in control of your life. Instead of making it about vulnerability, make it about taking charge.

The Path Forward

The sexual health disparities facing men in Canada’s resource extraction camps aren’t just about individual choices—they’re the result of intersecting social, structural, and cultural forces. Geographic isolation, rigid gender norms, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and toxic workplace cultures all play a role.

Meaningful change requires action at multiple levels. Individuals need support to challenge harmful norms. Workplaces need to create cultures that value health over machismo. Healthcare systems need to adapt delivery models to reach underserved populations. And all of us need to interrogate how we talk about gender, health, and what it means to be a man.

The stakes are high—not just for STI rates, but for the overall wellbeing of workers and the communities around these camps. By understanding how masculine hierarchies shape health behaviors, we can work toward more equitable gender relations and, ultimately, better health outcomes for everyone.

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