Understanding Male Suicide in Rural Bangladesh: A Narrative Case Analysis Through Hegemonic Masculinity and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide

Abstract

Suicide is an increasingly serious social problem in Bangladesh. Drawing on five male suicide cases in the rural areas of one of the country’s most suicide-prone districts, this qualitative study examines the influence of Hegemonic Masculinity and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide in understanding the motivations behind these deaths. These cases provide detailed narrative accounts to illustrate the complex links between masculinity, interpersonal dynamics, and suicide. The first case highlights the devastating effects of physical illness and financial debt. The second centers on overwhelming familial pressure. The third exposes the victim’s socially marginalized position due to landlessness. The fourth suggests that suspicions regarding the wife’s character played a key role in the husband’s decision to take his life. The final case reveals how a life of isolation contributed to suicide. Across these cases, the men were found to be profoundly affected by their inability to meet the expectations of hegemonic or idealized masculinity. In addition, they experienced core elements of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide: perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and an acquired capability for suicide. Given that suicide is a multi-faceted issue, a multi-dimensional intervention strategy is necessary to address this pressing social problem.