Men, masculinity, and community development in Kenyan slums

Abstract

There is limited research on masculinity in relation to community development. Using ethnographic and interview data from two slums in Kenya and building on one of the more well-known definitions of community development, we explore men's narratives of themselves in relation to community development. We highlight how men's cognizance of the structural and contextual constraints to the development of their communities intersected with both a feeling that they have helped to hamper community development and an adamant sense of their own criticality and centrality in ensuring it. While repudiating the idea that they have to change in order for their community to progress, men also generally hinged community development on their tenacious pursuit of traditional masculinity scripts. The rejection of mainstream masculinity norms as the basis for community progress will not resonate consistently among men. Social and community development work with men that fails to acknowledge them as gendered people may not succeed.

Breaking the Cycle: Women’s Perceptions of the Causes of Violence and Crime in Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya and their Strategies for Response and Prevention

“…Yet, in describing youths' involvement in crime and violence, many women, though not all, seemed to suggest that youth may have few alternatives to crime, particularly theft, i.e., "If they want to eat, it is a must they enter crime." This seems to point to more systemic issues of widespread unemployment and/or exclusion from sustainable employment and educational opportunities, and mirrors results from other studies that have explored urban violence in informal settlements in Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, and South Africa through young men's narratives and perspectives (Gibbs et al, 2014;Izugbara et al, 2014;Izugbara & Egesa, 2019;Mariano et al, 2018). Findings from these studies, which seem to align with concepts of strain and feminist theories of crime causation, suggest that crime and violence in informal settlements may, at least in part, be a result of men trying to act like "real men" in a setting where, due to systemic lack of opportunities for employment or success, they are failing to fulfill traditional masculine roles such as earning an income and providing for and protecting their families and communities (Izugbara et al, 2014;Izugbara & Egesa, 2019;Mariano et al, 2018).…”

“…This seems to point to more systemic issues of widespread unemployment and/or exclusion from sustainable employment and educational opportunities, and mirrors results from other studies that have explored urban violence in informal settlements in Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, and South Africa through young men's narratives and perspectives (Gibbs et al, 2014;Izugbara et al, 2014;Izugbara & Egesa, 2019;Mariano et al, 2018). Findings from these studies, which seem to align with concepts of strain and feminist theories of crime causation, suggest that crime and violence in informal settlements may, at least in part, be a result of men trying to act like "real men" in a setting where, due to systemic lack of opportunities for employment or success, they are failing to fulfill traditional masculine roles such as earning an income and providing for and protecting their families and communities (Izugbara et al, 2014;Izugbara & Egesa, 2019;Mariano et al, 2018). In the face of limited opportunities for employment or education most young men in informal settlements spend time idling in the streets (Gibbs et al, 2014); 'hustling,' i.e., pursuing economic strategies that include selling small items on the side of the road; "parking" at a "job corner" waiting for someone to hire them for menial work; or engaging in petty crime (Gibbs et al, 2014;Izugbara & Egesa, 2019).…”

“…Yet, women are seemingly absent from much of the research focused on violence and crime prevention and reduction in informal settlements. Recent literature suggests that some men believe they are better suited to lead community development initiatives in informal settlements than women (Izugbara et al, 2014). Other literature suggests that women represent a smaller proportion of perpetrators and victims of violent crimes than men (Shaw & Carli, 2011;Ziraba et al, 2011); thus, research focused on crime and violence in informal settlements in SSA often focuses on the experiences and voices of young men except in the domain of sexual and intimate partner violence.…”

‘Life is Not Designed to be Easy for Men’: Masculinity and Poverty Among Urban Marginalized Kenyan Men

“…Participants in the FGDs and IDIs gave informed consent for their study. More details on the study method are available [20].…”

Women’s Work and Assets: Considering Property Ownership from a Transnational Feminist Perspective

“…The analysis centers women but is not necessarily limited to them. For work on men and masculinities in slums, see Izugbara, Tikkanen, and Barron (2014). ask what women are for, but rather, What social, political, and material goods work for women?…”