We are presented with a situation in which ‘the male identity is a fragile and tentative thing with no secure anchorage in the contemporary world’ (Brittan, 1989:3). However, empirical evidence surrounding the commonly perceived contemporary crisis of masculinity fails to support any overall crisis of masculinity thesis (Edwards, 2006:16). Instead, the different perceptions of the crisis tend to rest on at least one of the three propositions pointed out by Edwards (2006:17): Firstly; masculinity as a set of values, practices or dispositions may be suffering a crisis in so far as it is being undermined and devalued, or, moreover that masculinity per see is now to a greater or lesser degree equated with a series of negative rather than positive associations and connotations. Secondly; masculinity may be in crisis due to its perceived tendency to implore into femininity, whether through an undermining of any gender role distinctions or through feminization of some forms of masculinity as, for example, in the case of the rise of contemporary consumerist, fashion conscious or sexually uncertain masculinities such as metrosexuality. Thirdly, the crisis of masculinity may relate to the sense that masculinity in terms of the male sex role is itself ipso facto crisis-inducing. In this sense, masculinity is not in crisis, it is crisis. This study was based on the second proposition. In the patriarchal Kenyan society where gender roles are fairly traditional, and the male person perceived superior to the female and male things valued above female things, the aspect of feminization of masculinity is not just new but indeed strange. This investigation was intended to find explanations for the feminizing behaviour by males. The sex role paradigm developed in the 1970s explains acquisition of masculinity through socialization, sex role learning and social control. These mainstream theories of learning gender were explored in the assumption that they form the basis for the contemporary theories, and further, although much had changed with the times, a large part of the society still perceived gender roles from this traditional viewpoint. The masculine crisis theory and the constructionist views of gender constituted the theoretical framework of the study. This was due to the researcher’s acknowledgement that individuals were active participants in the construction of their own gender identity, and that there was likelihood for the individuals to deviate from the social expectations of what masculinity means and should be. As a result they could construct a masculinity that did not reflect normality, hence portraying a crisis. Data relating to the respondents’ perception of and reasons for feminine behaviour among young male adults was gathered from young males, young females, and both male and female parents through questionnaire and interview methods. Information about the home environment of the respondents was also necessary to help explore environmental factors that contribute to gender construction. In addition, observation was used to obtain information to dispute, confirm or complement the findings from the other mentioned methods. An exploratory-descriptive qualitative type of research was undertaken at Moi University, Eldoret in Kenya, where the feminization of masculinity was observed. 100 male students chosen through both purposive and simple systematic sampling responded to the open-ended questionnaire which contained perception-eliciting items. A discussion with two focused groups of seven female students each, from the same institution obtained their opinion on the subject of cross-gender behaviour of their male colleagues. Selection of the females was based on willingness to participate. An in-depth interview with two male and three female parents of young male adults whose selection was upon availability, was done on a one-on-one basis to capture the view of adults (likely reasons for, and attitudes) on the matter of feminine behaviour among boys. Data was qualitatively processed and analyzed, taking into account issues of dependability and accuracy. Explanations, findings and conclusions were made, based on the fairly rich data. Overall, the researcher concluded that an interplay between various factors in the young males’ environments, including peers, media, parents and the general dynamics of society (including the feminist movements) explained the feminization of the masculine identity. All these were perceived as influenced by the postmodern movement that had transcended boundaries, thanks to modern communication techniques, to reach the initially very traditional societies. The researcher acknowledged the irreversibility of the clock of time and behaviour trends, hence suggested inclusiveness of this group of males for overall society development, but against the backdrop of responsible guidance and understanding. The study was seen as significant, both for education as an institution that empowered individuals for social function, as well as for peaceful coexistence for the society at large. Conclusively, a redefinition of ‘masculinity’ and a change in the current social attitudes about masculinity and femininity was recommended. Hopefully this was a step towards enhancing an understanding of behaviour dynamics in the largely changing social systems which, in the same vein, remained the touchstone for behaviour formation, modification and prediction not only in Kenya, but Africa as a whole.

This doctoral research addresses the relationship between the sport of boxing and men’s desistance from violent crime. It examines how men make sense of violence as a result of participating in the sport, and how they subsequently rehearse and practice violence in their everyday lives both in and outside of the gym walls. Thirteen men were interviewed using Biographical Narrative Interviewing techniques as part of a six month ethnography in an inner-city boxing gym in the north of England. Furthermore, I spoke with three policy makers in the field of sport and desistance from crime, to ascertain whether or not they determined sport to be beneficial in promoting pro-social behaviour among adolescents. Throughout this thesis I pay particular attention to the participant’s understanding of violence and also how the logic of the gym reinforces attitudes favourable to violence and the maintenance of respect. Thus, this research discusses and elaborates on previous assumptions in sporting and desistance literature, and argues that while relevant, diversionary activities and sport-based rehabilitative programmes are only one element in the theory of change. In conclusion, arguments are put forward that state that boxing actually traps men in an attendant culture of respect that requires them to respond in aggressive ways to maintain an image of both masculinity and respect. This attendant culture - that is transposable between gym and street – can override the pro- social desisting elements that the gym can offer, and reinforces the logic and discourses that evokes and traps men in habits of responding to violence, therefore in terms of future policy and practice new directions need to be sought.

Men commit the majority of violent crime, yet the majority of men do not commit violent crime. Why is this? Research connecting men and violence cannot fully explain this phenomenon, namely, the variation among men regarding violence. This research study seeks to empirically measure masculinity and to study its relationship to perceptions of violence. My primary hypothesis is that men who measure as more `masculine' will be more accepting of violence. My secondary hypothesis is that situational contexts are also important for the acceptance of violence. These hypotheses are examined using the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory and randomized factorial vignettes. Results indicate that those who more strongly conform to masculine norms are more likely to be accepting of the violence represented in these vignettes.

This dissertation focuses on exploring boys’ perspectives of masculinity and gender inequality before and after participating in the Hero Empathy Bystander Programme for Boys. The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of this programme in facilitating a change in boys’ perspectives of masculinity, attitudes to gender inequality and views on gender-based violence. The researcher conducted a qualitative study and used the social learning theoretical framework to gain insight into the boys’ perceptions as revealed in the focus-group discussions held with them before and after the intervention. Through thematic analysis the researcher was able to identify boys’ perspectives of masculinity, attitudes to gender inequality and views on gender-based violence before the intervention and change in these perceptions after the intervention. This research formed part of a larger study. The intervention was implemented in 2018 by Action Breaks Silence, a non-profit organisation. Participants in the intervention were Grade 5 boys from ten different primary schools in Soweto and Atteridgeville, South Africa. A research team from the University of Pretoria held focus-group discussions with ten of the Grade 5 boys in each school that participated in the intervention. The researcher of the present study analysed the focus group data collected before and after the intervention using the thematic analysis method in order to explore, identify and report on emerging patterns (themes). The results revealed that the boys’ communities, families and peers had influenced the development of their perceptions of masculinity, attitudes to gender inequality and views on gender-based violence. Further, the data obtained from the discussions held before the intervention indicated that the boys perceived themselves in a superior position, and having the power to impose their views on girls and demand obedience and compliance from women. After participation in the intervention, a noticeable shift was observed in their perceptions of gender roles and gender stereotypes and the inappropriateness of violence and aggression towards girls. Some behaviour change was noted in how boys related to girls. However, this change brought challenges; because they deviated from the traditional group norm of masculinity, their peer groups viewed them as outsiders. / Mini Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / HWSETA Postgraduate Bursary / Psychology / MA / Unrestricted

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This study examined the way gender operates in relation to time within the food work spectrum discussed in 19 narratives. The 19 narratives came from individual open ended face-to-face interviews with self-defined healthy men who shop at healthy food stores. This study's examination of how gender operates in the narratives was based on how the men constructed their experiences with women and work in relation to time through the food work spectrum. Women mentioned in the sampled narratives taught the men how to shop and eat in a healthy manner but women still did the cooking. Work wise the findings split the men into two groups, the majority were the men who did not eat at work and the minority were the ones who did. Both of these sets of findings illuminate that how the men constructed their experiences of the food work spectrum depended on gendered relations of power.

Research on comic books has mainly focused on how issues of crime and justice are dealt with. This research seeks to extend the existing body of work to address the ways that gender is depicted in comic books. To do this, I apply the framework of “doing gender” to instances of violence in superhero comic books. I examine seventy-two comic books and ninety-eight instances of violence to understand gendered patterns in behaviors, responses, and visual depictions of violent instances and their aftermath. By collecting quantitative information on the instances of violence and qualitative information about how the instances are framed and visually presented, I find that, while men and women engage in similar behaviors, the ways in which these behaviors are presented are different.

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