Work

Becoming ‘Fully a Boy’: Ukufikisana and the Construction of Masculinities in a South African Urban Township High School

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper examines a phenomenon called ukufikisana , a school-related initiation practice where senior boys assert dominance through violence and intimidation over junior boys, shaping two distinct masculine identities. Senior boys embody hegemonic masculinity, marked by physical power, control, and social authority, while junior boys are relegated to a subordinated masculinity, characterized by enforced submission and vulnerability. The paper draws on data from focus group discussions with 14 teenage boys to explore the sociocultural dynamics of ukufikisana within a high school in a high-risk urban township in South Africa, a setting defined by entrenched poverty, violence, and heteropatriarchal social structures. The findings demonstrate how ukufikisana reinforces hierarchical gender relations and normalises violence as a means of navigating power and identity among boys. These insights underline the urgent need for gender-transformative and non-violent interventions to challenge harmful masculinities and foster equitable school environments.

Source: Men and Masculinities

DOI: 10.1177/1097184x251330293

Authors: Ndumiso Daluxolo Ngidi, Melusi Andile Dlamini

Institutions: University of Fort Hare, Rhodes University

Language: English

Topic: Gender Roles and Identity Studies

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Gender equality, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650