Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Men and masculinities have become so apparent and normative within the course of history and the social structuring of society, that they almost have become the invisible gender. Ubiquitous in positions of power everywhere, the paradox regarding men is becoming more evident by the day. This investigation aims to explore the notion of masculinity, as expressed in the text 1 Peter by means of its well-proportioned rhetorical structure and argument. The argument of the thesis will focus on 1 Peter 2: 11-4: 11 since this larger portion of the letter forms a textual unit. The investigation, Playing the system, not the man, consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 provides a brief synopsis of the basic aim, research problems and questions as well as hypothesis of this thesis, in conjunction with the clarification of methodology and basic core concepts used in the investigation. In Chapter 2 the text of 1 Peter 2:11-4:11 is exegetically analysed by means of a close reading of the text with a focus on core concepts which functions within the text but which are also deemed crucial for the ensuing discussion of masculinity in 1 Peter within the context of the 1st century social world. Chapter 3 continues the discussion by elucidating the 1st century social context, that constitutes the life setting of 1 Peter, in terms of the central ideological concepts of the Roman Empire, and the honour and shame culture, and in particular how these played out in terms of social structures such as the family or household. In Chapter 4 the emphasis shifts back to the text of 1 Peter, keeping with the aim of the investigation to both retain the focus on this letter but also to evaluate the text rhetorically, that is, to consider how the text construes and constructs masculinity. The discussion in the chapter focusses on the text’s construal of the community that is addressed as the οἶκος of God, and with attention to family language and brotherhood. Chapter 5 addresses masculinity according to a prominent theorist’s taxonomy of social masculine patterns. This interpretive model is then applied to 1 Peter, and used as lens with which to delineate varying constitutive forms of masculinity in the text. The concluding Chapter 6 ties the above discussion together and briefly elaborates on the possible value and impact of masculine patterns suggested in the text, and their possible influence and impact on Christianity today. Using an adequate and accountable hermeneutic, the text of 1 Peter can be enlisted in efforts to allow all men, the “man on the street” in all his various guises, to play within the system. Rather than blaming the system on the man, men are challenged to live in freedom not apart from the system as it is impossible, but free nevertheless and notwithstanding the system. In other words, the interpretation of 1 Peter in this thesis invite all men to assume the identity of “foreigners and exiles” regarding the system of male patriarchy! / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mans en manlikheid het binne die verloop van die geskiedenis en die sosiale strukture van die samelewing so normatief en onsigbaar geword, dat hulle byna die onsigbare gender word. Alomteenwoordig in posisies van mag orals, is die paradoks rakende mans deurgaans vandag nog meer duidelik te word. Hierdie ondersoek het ten doel om die idee van manlikheid te verken, soos uitgedruk in die 1 Petrus-teks met die netjiese retoriese struktuur en argument. Die argument van die tesis sal fokus op 1 Petrus 2: 11-4: 11 want die groter gedeelte van die brief vorm 'n tekseenheid. Die ondersoek Playing the System not the man bestaan uit ses hoofstukke. Die 1ste hoofstuk voorsien ’n kort opsomming wat die basiese doelstelling, navorsingsprobleme en vrae sowel as die hipotese van die tesis. Dít word dan in verband met die metodologie en basiese kern konsepte wat in die ondersoek gebruik word, opgevolg. In hoofstuk 2 word die Griekse teks van 1 Petrus 2:11-4:11 eksegeties geanaliseer deur ’n retoriese noukeurige-leesmetode op die teks toe te pas. Dié retoriese noukeurige-lees metode word gevolglik gebruik om die kern konsepte rakende manlikheid binne die 1ste-eeuse sosiale konteks na vore te bring. Die kern konsepte word in hoofstuk 3 verder binne die algemene sosio-historiese konteks van die 1ste-eeuse Mediterreense wêreld, bespreek. Aangesien die Mediterreense wêreld kompleks is, word die bespreking van die temas aangaande manlikheid binne die twee sentrale ideologiese sfere naamlik die Romeinse Ryk en die eer- en skande kultuur, beperk. Die fokus van hoofstuk 3 is om die sentrale manlikheidstemas byvoorbeeld die familie en huishouding in gesprek met die sosiale strukture van die 1ste-eeuse konteks, te bring. In Hoofstuk 4 word die klem weer op 1 Petrus geplaas deur te bespreek hoe die teks retories manlikheid vorm en saamstel. Die ondersoek fokus hoofsaaklik op hoe die teks die gemeenskap as οἶκος van God, aanspreek en hoe die retoriese konstruksie van manlikheid deur familie-en broederskapstaal daargestel word. In hoofstuk 5 word manlikheid vanuit ’n prominente teoretikus se klassifikasie van sosiale manlikheidspatrone aangespreek. Die interpretasiemodel word as lens op 1 Petrus toegepas deur aan te dui hoe die teks afwyk en bydra tot die ideale hegemoniese manlikhede van die 1ste eeu. In hoofstuk 6 word die bogenoemde gesprek opgesom en word daar kortliks op die moontlike waarde en effek van die manlikheidspatrone, soos dit vanuit die teks in hoofstuk 4-5 geïdentifiseer is, uitgebrei. Daar word gevolglik ook na die moontlike invloed en effek van dié manlikheidspatrone op hedendaagse Christenskap verwys. Die ondersoek maak van ’n toepaslike en verantwoordbare hermeneutiek gebruik. Die 1 Petrus-teks kan gevolglik van hulp wees om aan alle mans, die spreekwoordelike “man-op-die-straat” in al die verskillende vorms waarin hy voorkom, die geleentheid te bied om binne die sisteem te speel. Eerder as om die sisteem te blameer, word mans eerder uitgedaag om in die vryheid te leef, alhoewel nie apart van die sisteem is nie, maar eerder om vry te leef ten spyte van die sisteem. Met ander woorde, die interpretasie van 1 Petrus in hierdie tesis wil aan mans die ruimte te gee om hulself te identifiseer as “vreemdelinge en bywoners”, met betrekking tot manlike patriargie.

Men and masculinity studies is a significantly developed field of research in Western scholarship and has gained increased interest in Africa, particularly in South(ern) Africa. This study: “Godly Manhood”: Evangelical Constructions of Masculinities in A South African Context – A Case Study of the Mighty Men’s Conference (MMC) is one that seeks to make a contribution in this field of research from a religion (Christian theological) and gender perspective. The study investigates how faith discourses within the Mighty Men’s Conference (MMC) shape perceptions and constructions of masculinities within contemporary Protestant (mainly, Charismatic, Evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity) in post-apartheid South Africa. The study sought to analyse the extent to which Angus Buchan and the MMC’s call for men to return to ‘godly manhood’ either re-inscribe patriarchal conservatism or contribute towards gender-social transformation. In seeking to examine what it means to be ‘Mighty Men’ and “godly men,” the study illustrates how faith discourses within the MMC as a Charismatic, Evangelical and Pentecostal religious grouping inform representations of masculinities. As the study reveals, Charismatic Evangelical theology, beliefs, and gender traditions/ideologies presented by Buchan in his MMC informs perceptions of what is understood as an ‘ideal’ Christian man. These, as the study shows, influence constructions of masculinities achetyped in patterns of ‘godly manhood’ as a process of “recreating Christian masculinity.” The study applied drawing on intersectionality as a conceptual framework. The study showed how religion intersects with other socio-cultural, political and economic factors that necessitate changes as Christian men seek to make sense of their masculine self at the cross-roads of various socialisations. Such changes seem to contribute to representations of emerging masculinities within this context of study. The study adopted a qualitative, multi-methods research design and in addition to my personal observations from the conferences, semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty four men who have been attending the MMC. Analysis of findings reveals that there are multiple representations and constructions of contradictory and conflicting representations of masculinities within divergent voices of what it means to be ‘Mighty Men’ and practice ‘godly manhood.’ Although certain core commonalities regarding the concept of ‘godly manhood’ emerged from the thirty four men interviewed across the three shades of conservative, Charismatic and Pentecostal Evangelicals, this study makes two important conclusions. First, it indicates that ascriptions to “godly manhood” inculcated by Buchan and the MMC not only portray patterns of traditional and conventional masculinities, but also remain a patriarchal motivation for restoring Christian male supremacy, control and domination. Second, the study illustrates that while Charismatic Evangelical men have a desire to change, their ascription to ‘godly manhood’ is characterized by struggle between traditional/conventional male practices and a need to embrace egalitarian views of gender relations. Such results indicate the extent to which contemporary Charismatic and Evangelical Christianity portray expressions of masculinities which are ambivalent. The study concludes questioning whether Jesus Christ can be a resource for transforming religiously constructed masculinities. The study proposes alternative Christological discourses as counter-models to traditional and patriarchal masculinities. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.

“Understanding young Christian religious men’s constructions of masculine identity” This study aims to address the question of whether and how religious belief, affiliation and identity impacts on young men’s construction of masculine identity. Looking at how young men construct a socially acceptable masculinity, it explores how they position themselves in relation to this socially normative hegemonic masculinity. Alongside this, the study looks at whether and how young men construct alternative versions of masculinity and how a religious identity impacts on the young men’s masculine identities. Participants in the study (N=5) were all young men ranging in age from 18 to 25 years old, and all held a strong religious affiliation. Through a series of in-depth interviews, the participants gave their accounts of what it means to be a man in their lives, giving examples of how they both accepted and rejected the social norms of masculinity, as well as describing how their religious affiliation impacted on their lives. A common version of hegemonic masculinity was identified by the participants, characterised by male authority, emotional stoicism and symbolised through physical strength and material possessions. But alongside this the participants identified alternate versions of masculinity that tended to oppose hegemonic ideals. There was a strong focus from the participants on the impact of their religious affiliation on their masculine identity, with religious values taking precedence when in conflict with a hegemonic identity. It was found that the participants tended to perform a hybrid version of masculinity, with a hegemonic and religious identity existing in parallel. This new version of masculinity is argued to be an alternative version of a hegemonic masculinity that has emerged in response to their religious identity, and is consistent with other gendered developments in the South African context. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

This thesis examines masculinity in the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora through two ritual practices, kavat&dotbelow;i and viratam. I argue that these practices are expressions of masculine identity and articulations of anxiety rooted in the refugee experience. Kavat&dotbelow;i, a ritual piercing and ecstatic dance, and viratam, a rigorous fast, reconstruct masculinities fragmented by expatriation and the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. Through ritual performance, men fashion themselves as the selfless heroes of traditional Tamil literature without negating their fluency as modern Tamil-Canadians. By voicing rupture and enacting reprieve, the men who perform these rites incur individual catharsis. New non-Brahmin masculine identities that draw their authority from renunciation and asceticism as opposed to social privilege emerge in this diasporic context. Employing analyses of literature, political propaganda, and ethnography this thesis demonstrates the powerful relationship between ritual performance and masculine identity. In kavat&dotbelow;i and viratam, the male body becomes the site of contested personal, political, and religious narratives.

When something is about masculinities it is not always about men. Kosofsky-Sedgwick (1995 :12) Any society that is lauded for its exemplary National Constitution that asserts and affords their citizens basic human rights is accountable for how those rights are translated into the "lived experiences" of its citizens. In South Africa, a pronounced and violent identity has become notoriously established by the blatant disrespect for women's rights, a reality predominantly present within the marital dyad. Unfortunately, even after eighteen years of political liberation and some fourteen years after the promulgation of the much-lauded Domestic Violence Act No. 116 of 1998, the culture of human rights has not demonstrably translated into women's rights as countless women continue to be challenged in their marriages by the dictates and privileges of hegemonic masculinities that their husbands subscribe to. In order to engage with this prevailing and destructive state of disharmony and abuse in marriages, this study concentrates on a simple yet logical question of "why do men do what they do?" centred as it is within the compass of their violent relationships with their wives. This exploratory research project afforded an in-depth understanding and examination of seven married men who were afforded an opportunity to engage in four focus group discussions to describe and detail their subjective narratives of their violent relationships. This research provided spaces for men's reflective accounts of their violence, thereby offering insightful interpretations of the contours of the contradictions contained in the social construction of masculinities which in South Africa is multi-faceted. The sample frame comprised of men who reside in Phoenix, a large township, north of the city of Durban. According to racial profile, all were South African Indian. Their ages ranged from 34 to 61 years, while their wives were between 35 to 60 years of age. Years of marriage ranged from 3 to 35. Three respondents were in their first marriage, while four were married for the second time. Five respondents had matriculated; while one possessed a post-matriculation qualification and one had completed Standard Six (present High School Grade 8). Concerning their religious affiliation, six of the respondents were Christian and one was Muslim. Utilising critical, freminist and masculinity theories, the 'authoritative discourses' offered by the respondents were meaningfully interrogated, examined and analysed. In particular, the study paid careful attention to the inextricable links between the constructions of masculinities, domestic violence and the sociology of religion. Emergent meta-themes that emanated from the extensive narratives of the men on their violent relationship with their wives included the priveleges of patriarchy; religion and male privelege, and finally the clash between religious belief and the South African criminal justice system. It is within the acknowledged space of the "web of associated factors" which contribute to domestic violence, that conclusions were reached. The study logically concludes that a deliberate, coherent, sustained, and spiritual ethos is needed in South Africa so as to ameliorate the damaging and destructive effects that are presently and overwhelmingly dictated by the presence of hegemonic masculinities. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

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The aim of this study is: To critically correlate insights from the normative Christian sources and other disciplines so as to formulate a pastoral counsel on building strong families for Christian men in Singapore as they live out their faith and interact with others in a success-oriented society. This study is important in that it attempts to: - Expose the false belief that homemaking should not be a masculine responsibility, and to challenge Christian men in Singapore to lead their families as God-honouring husbands and fathers in a materialistic and success-oriented society. - Help the Church in Singapore in the ministry of building strong Christian families so that a good witness can be presented before a highly secularised society. - Nurture professionalism in the ministry by formulating a pastoral guide with which those in Christian full-time vocation or voluntary work can use to effectively care and counsel Christian men with troubled family lives. To accomplish these tasks, the four aspects – descriptive, historical, systematic and strategic – advocated by Don S Browning in his book, A Fundamental Practical Theology, were considered. An opinion poll was also done to augment the library research. Additionally, qualitative interviews in the form of conversational partnerships were conducyted to better hear and understand the work-family complexities faced by some Christian men. The findings in terms of some features that give a preliminary profile of the average Christian man in Singapore as a basis for further research are: i. He accepts competition as inevitable in a meritocratic society. ii. He works hard so as to develop; to his best potential and to provide well for his family materially. iii. He often has little time to bond with his family relationally unless he makes a deliberate effort to do so. iv. He does not equate male headship with sole leadership at home. Hence, he shares or delegates family responsibilities, including that of breadwinning, housekeeping and parenting. v. He discusses rather than dictates decisions related to major family concerns. Hence, he is pragmatic enough to seek and adopt alternatives that are most beneficial to the family. These include choosing options like dual-income, child care centre, maid and grandparent to meet the breadwinning, child caring and housekeeping needs of the home. Finally, to help Christian men and the Church in Singapore to be actively pro-family in perspective and action, the study concludes by proposing five suggestions: i. Work hard so as to earn enough to turn limited time and energy into actual pro-family events. ii. Adopt an extended family member into one’s own home. iii. Enhance pro-family facilities and services by establishing, giving and volunteering more. iv. Emphasise family life education in the Christian faith in order to advance it in the Church, home, workplace and society at large. v. Be prepared to do that which honours Christ even if it means losing 'face', beginning at home. / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology: Pastoral Family Care))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

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Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Men have been experiencing a crisis in masculinity for a number of years now. Lower income white Afrikaans men experience this crisis in a unique way. Performance, especially in the area of work, as well as being able to provide for one‟s family, are integrally related to masculinity. This study takes place in the field of practical theology with an eye on the Sunday service, as practised in the Dutch Reformed Church, as a whole. The study is concerned with the question of how the Sunday service can be used as a space where an alternative masculinity can be nurtured. In this study the researcher makes use of qualitative empirical research in the form of a half-structured interview schedule to ascertain how men in a specific lower income community experience the Sunday service in times of questions about masculinity when in a situation of work loss. The researcher focuses on two areas when speaking about the Sunday service, namely preaching and liturgy. In the interviews the researcher not only finds out about men‟s experiences, but also about their needs with regards to experiences and messages of lament and hope in preaching and liturgy. Although hope is preached during Sunday services, there is little experience of lament. There is, however a need to lament before God and this can be expanded in Dutch Reformed liturgy. A need, coupled by an experience results in a message of hope received. In the next stage a detailed look is given at the Sunday service as a whole, in terms of preaching and liturgy. Different types of preaching are studied, as well as different elements of liturgy. The researcher focuses on a need to reclaim lament in both preaching and liturgy as a way of creating a space for bring one‟s feelings and emotions before God, but also as a way of finding hope. Prophetic and eschatological preaching are ways of bringing lament into preaching. It sees the present in light of the end where God brings everything to fulfilment. In liturgy, lament is reclaimed in music and song and facilitated in rituals. The rediscovery and reclamation of lament is central to the nurture of an alternative masculinity. There are many ways of doing this in the preaching and liturgy of a Dutch Reformed congregation. The researcher gives a few practical suggestions on how to bring lament into the Sunday service. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mans ervaar al vir jare 'n krisis in manlikheid. Die mans van 'n laer inkomste werkersklas ervaar hierdie krisis op 'n unieke manier. Om veral in die area van werk te presteer en vir jou gesin te sorg, is kwessies wat integraal deel is van 'n man se ervaring van sy manlikheid. Hierdie studie vind plaas in die veld van praktiese teologie, met 'n oog op die erediens in sy geheel, soos dit in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk beoefen word. Hierdie tesis is bemoeid met die vraag oor hoe die erediens gebruik kan word as a ruimte waar 'n alternatiewe manlikheid gekoester kan word. In hierdie studie maak die navorser gebruik van kwalitatiewe empiriese navorsing in die vorm van 'n half-gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule om vas te stel hoe mans in „n spesifieke laer inkomste gemeenskap die erediens ervaar ten tyde van vrae oor hulle manlikheid in 'n situasie van werksverlies. Wanneer die navorser oor die erediens praat, fokus sy op twee areas, naamlik prediking en liturgie. In die onderhoude vind die navorser nie net uit oor mans se ervarings van die erediens nie, maar ook oor hulle behoeftes wanneer dit by ervarings en boodskappe van lament en hoop in die prediking en liturgie kom. Alhoewel daar wel oor hoop in die erediens gepreek word, is daar min ervarings van lament. Daar is wel 'n behoefte om voor God te lament en dit kan uitgebrei word in die liturgie. 'n Behoefte, gekoppel aan 'n ervaring loop uit op 'n boodskap van hoop. In die volgende fase word daar op 'n gedetailleerde wyse na die erediens as 'n geheel, in terme van prediking en liturgie, gekyk. Verskillende tipes prediking word bestudeer, sowel as verskillende elemente van die liturgie. Die navorser fokus op 'n behoefte om lament in beide prediking en liturgie te herwin as 'n manier om 'n ruimte te skep om 'n persoon se gevoelens en emosies voor God te bring, maar ook as 'n manier om hoop te vind. Profetiese en eskatologiese prediking is maniere om lament in die prediking in te bring. Dit sien die hede in die lig van die einde wanneer God alles tot vervulling bring. In die liturgie word lament herwin deur musiek en sang gefasiliteer deur rituele. Die herontdekking en herwinning van lament is van groot belang in die koester van 'n alternatiewe manlikheid. Daar is baie maniere om dit in die prediking en liturgie van 'n Nederduitse Gereformeerde gemeente te doen. Die navorser gee 'n paar praktiese voorstelle oor hoe om lament in die erediens in te bring.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates the construction of masculinity in the Xhosa initiation school (ulwaluko) in the townships of Cape Town, South Africa from a religio-cultural perspective. This ethnographic study utilized interviews with participants, observations of the initiation school, and is also complemented with documents that are written by Xhosa authors Thando Mqolozana, Nelson Mandela, Peter Mtuze, and A.N.N. Ngxamngxa. The documentary by Mayenzeke Baza and a blog post by Xhosa journalist Luzuko Pongoma were also used. The data collection and analysis was done with the Grounded Theory Approach using Atlas.ti version 7. The ontological and epistemological premise is of the constructivist understanding. The conceptual framework is grounded within the African philosophy of Ubuntu and African religio-cultural underpinnings. A new term, ancestral masculinity, was given to depict the type of masculinity described by the findings. It is marked by participating in a ‘manhood’ rites of passage and adhering to its prescribed processes and procedures, according to the ‘living and dead’ ancestors, in order for one to be accepted and recognized as part of the community. The findings show that ancestral masculinity, in its micro context of ‘boyhood’, is a searching route to acceptance. The initiate longs and finds acceptance in the initiation school through enduring pain and fostering a relationship with his guardian and teacher (ikhankatha). Secondly, ancestral masculinity is seen as the yearning to be African in its macro-context. It was demonstrated by admonishing (ukuyala) that helps the initiated to live an exemplary life of honouring (inhlonipho) those who are living and dead. This honouring is portrayed by doing everything possible to be helpful and to accord respect and care to elders. Inhlonipho also challenges individualist accomplishment and materialist flaunting and any ills that negate relational harmony. The study reveals challenges in the ulwaluko institution and construction of masculinity, such as alcohol abuse; carelessness, neglect, and passivity by elders in the process; exclusivity that discriminates against others; and inflexibility toward other constructions of masculinity. However, opportunities are also present within this institution to encourage dialogue and reconciliation, to create flexibility, and to utilize existing values to promote social cohesion amidst the challenges of the contemporary South African context. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die volgende tesis ondersoek die konstruksie van manlikheid binne die Xhosa inisiasieskool (ulwaluko) in die plakkerskampe en omligende gebiede van Kaapstad, Suid-Afrika. Hierdie etnografiese studie maak gebruik van onderhoude met vrywillige deelnemers, waarnemings binne die inisiasieskool en word ook verder gekomplimenteer deur dokumente wat geskryf is deur Xhosa outeurs onder andere Thando Mqolozana, Nelson Mandela, Peter Mtuze asook A.N.N. Ngxamngxa. Verder word die dokumentêr deur Mayenzeke Baza sowel as ’n “blogpost” deur Xhosa joernalis Luzuko Pongoma ook gebruik. Die versameling van data sowel as die analise daarvan was gedoen deur die Gefundeerde Teorie benadering en Atlas.ti weergawe 7 was gebruik. Die ontologiese sowel as epistemologiese premisse is van die konstruktivistiese paradigma. Die konsepsuele raamwerk is gegrond in die Afrika filosofie van Ubuntu sowel as Afrika godsdiens en kulturele onderbou. ‘n Nuwe term, voorvaderlike manlikheid, was gegee om die tipe manlikheid uit te beeld wat deur die bevindinge beskryf was. Dit word gekenmerk deur deelname in manlikheid rituele van deurgang asook voldoening aan die voorgeskrewe prosesse en prosedures volgens die “lewende en dooie” voorvaders, om aanvaar en erken te word as deel van die gemeenskap. Die bevindinge dui aan dat voorvaderlike manlikheid in sy mikro-konteks van “seunskap” ’n soekende roete tot aanvaarding is. Die persoon wat die inisiasie moet deurmaak smag na en verkry aanvaarding in die inisiasieskool deur pyn te verduur en om ’n verhouding te kweek met sy voog en leermeester (ikhankatha). Tweedens word hierdie voorvaderlike manlikheid aanskou as die hunkering om ’n Afrikaan te wees in sy makro-konteks. Dit was veral gedemonstreer deur vermaning (ukuyala), wat die geïnisieerde help om ’n voorbeeldige lewe te lei wat die lewendes sowel as die dooies vereer (inhlonipho). Die verering word uitgebeeld deur alles moontlik te doen om behulpsaam te wees en om respek sowel as versorging te verleen aan die bejaardes. Inhlonipho stel ook uitdagings aan die individuele prestasies, materialistiese spoggery asook enige euwels wat teenstrydig is met die relasionele harmonie. Die studie openbaar uitdagings in die ulwaluko instelling en konstruksie van manlikheid onder andere alkohol misbruik, roekeloosheid, nalatigheid asook passiwiteit onder die meer ouer en bejaarde geslag in die proses; uitsluiting wat diskrimineer teen andere, asook onbuigsaamheid teenoor die ander konstruksies van manlikheid. Ondanks die uitdagings is daar ook geleenthede in die instelling wat dialoog en versoening aanmoedig om buigsaamheid te skep sowel as die bestaande waardes aan te wend om sosiale kohesie te bevorder te midde van die uitdagings van die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse konteks.