Several studies suggest that sexual assaults are experienced differently by males than by females. In dominant discourses in which sexual perpetration is associated with males and sexual victimisation with females, males are expected to practice and exhibit hegemonic masculinity. This gendered perception of sexual assaults means that female perpetration of male child sexual abuse often goes unrecognised and that male perpetration is particularly problematic for male victims. Using a feminist critical paradigm and critical discourse analysis as a research design, this study explored how a sample of male victims in Zimbabwe experienced sexual abuse as children and how they were affected by it. The study, further, explored how the male victims of childhood sexual abuse sought to reconcile the experience of victimisation with their identity as males. Nine men participated in the study. The sample was, due to the sensitive nature of the topic, purposively selected using letters describing the nature of the study and inviting participation. The letters were distributed through diverse channels, including a newspaper with national coverage. Most participants reported experiences of female perpetrated abuse. The study found that, in keeping with dominant discourses of hegemonic masculinity, the participants struggled to construct themselves as victims. Many of the participants were considerably and negatively affected by having been sexually abused. Participants utilised a variety of methods to come to terms with the fact that they were males who had been victimised. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The problem that motivated the study was that the way in which juvenile sex offenders are configuring themselves, and the way that self-development is currently understood, potentially has negative implications for the way they may be treated in therapy. The Gestalt paradigm was the lens through which this phenomenon was explored. The research method was from a qualitative perspective and was an explorative and descriptive analysis of the factors that contribute to this self-configuration. Data was collected by way of unstructured and semi-structured interviews and systematically represented by the emergent themes. Results showed the factors that contribute to the self-configuration of the juvenile sex offender. Recommendations were made to the juveniles, their caretakers and the social workers. The researcher concluded that the Gestalt approach to self-configuration, with its emphasis on the field and relationships, provides a coherent lens through which to approach the phenomenon of juvenile sex offenders. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

The problem that motivated the study was that the way in which juvenile sex offenders are configuring themselves, and the way that self-development is currently understood, potentially has negative implications for the way they may be treated in therapy. The Gestalt paradigm was the lens through which this phenomenon was explored. The research method was from a qualitative perspective and was an explorative and descriptive analysis of the factors that contribute to this self-configuration. Data was collected by way of unstructured and semi-structured interviews and systematically represented by the emergent themes. Results showed the factors that contribute to the self-configuration of the juvenile sex offender. Recommendations were made to the juveniles, their caretakers and the social workers. The researcher concluded that the Gestalt approach to self-configuration, with its emphasis on the field and relationships, provides a coherent lens through which to approach the phenomenon of juvenile sex offenders. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)