An exploration of young men’s understanding of manhood and manliness: Wembezi township.
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Date
2017
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Abstract
This study aimed to describe the identities of manhood and manliness according to the young
men of Wembezi Township through qualitatively collected interview data. It also aimed to
identify meanings attached to manhood and manliness by the participants. The study
employed the concept of hegemonic masculinity as a theoretical lens for interrogating the
construction of manliness and manhood in Wembezi Township. Fifteen young men aged
between 18 and 25 were recruited using a purposive sampling strategy. Data was collected
through semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. The research findings revealed
that manhood and manliness among young men in Wembezi is primarily understood in terms
of ‘man’ as the breadwinner, provider, and head of the family. However, the study found that
there was no uniformity in the young men’s conceptions of manhood, as certain ideals upheld
by some young men conflicted with those held by others. There was also a significant level of
ambivalence between participants in these findings which supports the general perception and
notion that the concept of manhood is fluid, unstable and multiple. This was seen in
behavioural patterns, views and attitudes of the men to portray particular masculinities, such
as strength in the face of illness, which at the same time posed challenges to the construction
of masculinities. Social institutions such as schools and family homes emerged both as
significant sources of and platforms for the construction of manhood identities and manliness
in Wembezi Township. It is recommended that male gender construction and practices that
promote and reinforce hegemonic masculinities be investigated further in order to better
understand the phenomenon.
Description
Master of Science in Sociology. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2017.
Keywords
Theses - Sociology.