Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This study explored adolescent township boys’ attitudes and perceptions towards sexual \nrelationships. There has been substantial evidence in recent literature that violence \nagainst women is a problem worldwide and a growing concern, especially in South \nAfrica (Human Rights Watch, 2001; Jewkes, Levin, Mbananga & Bradshaw, 2002; \nStatistics South Africa, 2005; Stats SA Archive, 2002). In addition, it appears that South \nAfrican girls are more likely to be sexually assaulted by one, or more of their male \nclassmates (Haffejee, 2006; Human Rights Watch, 2001; Mirsky, 2003; Posel, 2005). \nMoreover, adolescents’ attitudes regarding violence against girls have been found to help \nperpetuate such violence (Lewis, 2000; Varga, 2003; Vogelman, 1990). On the basis of \nthe socialisation theory, it was postulated that the way in which a boy is socialised in his \nhome, school, peer group and society at large, impacts on his attitudes and perceptions of \nrape and hence the incidence of sexual violence in South Africa (Vogelman, 1990). This \nstudy therefore aimed to understand and investigate male adolescents’ perceptions and \nattitudes towards gender stereotypes, sexual consent and rape supportive beliefs or myths, \nin particular, focusing on what the construct of ‘rape’ is perceived to be. The subjective \nworld of adolescent township boys was explored within the qualitative paradigm. \nIn investigating the research aims, 11 adolescent boys, aged between 16 and 19 attending \none high school in Alexandra participated in the study. The research was conducted in \nthe form of both semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups of 3-5 \nparticipants. Various psychological, social and emotional themes relating to the theory of \nsocialisation were explored. The participants’ responses were recorded and then analysed \nutilising content analysis. From the analysis one can infer that society has got a major \nrole to play in attitudes towards sexual assault and how it is dealt with. It was found that \nthe majority of the participants in this study have adopted some rape supportive beliefs \nand ideas, and have been heavily encouraged to display, and hence do display some sexrole \nstereotypes and hegemonic masculinity. This study therefore supports the notion \nthat socialisation factors play an important role in the development of stereotypical \nnotions of sex role behaviour in adolescent males, which may further contribute to the \nincidence of rape.
Author: Lisa Kann
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W25503576