Developing alternative masculinities as a strategy to address gender-based violence

Abstract

English This article discusses research using focus groups and personal interviews with rural male youth on gender-based violence. The findings revealed that many of the youth considered relationship violence acceptable, but the article highlights the fluid, multiple and contextual nature of masculinity that surfaced. The significance of these alternative responses for interventions is emphasized. French Cet article commente une recherche menée au moyen de groupes de discussion et d'entrevues personnelles auprès de jeunes hommes de milieux ruraux sur le sujet de la violence sexospécifique. Les résultats révèlent que bon nombre de ces jeunes considèrent acceptable la violence relationnelle, mais l'article met en relief la nature variable, multiple et contextuelle de la masculinité qui s'en est dégagée. L'accent est donc mis sur le sens de ces nouvelles réponses en intervention. Spanish Este artículo discute la investigación utilizando grupos focales y entrevistas personales, con jóvenes varones rurales, sobre violencia de género. Los hallazgos revelan que muchos de los jóvenes consideraron aceptable la violencia en las relaciones, pero el artículo destaca la naturaleza fluida, múltiple y contextual de la masculinidad que sale a la superficie. Se enfatiza la significación de estas respuestas alternativas para las intervenciones.

Life on the Streets of Durban: No Millionaire Ending

“…Some of these males were 26s [a street gang], that is, from the same territory as the girls but not living in the same group, as reported by Nomusa: Fear is a common means of control and in this context of sexual violence, it is a means of male control over women. Violence and dominant views of masculinity are closely linked (Gilligan, 2001;Sathiparsad, 2008). Hearn (1996:29) warns against "separating violence off from the rest of social relations between men and women" and argues that rape is a strong expression of the gendered structure of our society.…”

Girlfriends, Sex and Violence: The Attitudes and Reported Behaviours of Adolescent Males in a South African Township

“…Beliefs, attitudes and behaviour can change, but there are no quick fixes. A number of researchers (Sathiparsad, 2008;Sathiparsad, Taylor & De Vries, 2010) have emphasised the centrality of educational interventions with young people in order to bring about more respectful gender relationships and safer sexual behaviours. There is recent evidence of some positive behaviour change among young people, particularly the greater use of condoms, in apparent response to a range of targeted interventions (Taylor, Dlamini, Meyer-Weitz, Sathiparsad, Jinabhai & Esterhuizen, 2010).…”

Peer Risk and Protective Factors in Adolescence: Implications for Drug Use Prevention

“…Fatusi and Hindin (2010:1), for instance, point out that today's generation of young people has to navigate the transition to adulthood in a world that is "vastly different from previous generations -a world where AIDS, globalisation, increasing urbanization, electronic communication, migration, economic challenges, among other external forces, have radically transformed what it means to be young". Resonating with the sample selected for the present study, Sathiparsad's (2008) reminder that the effects of apartheid and the political transition in South Africa have resulted in adolescents being exposed to vastly different life circumstances and experiences is important.…”