Sexual abstinence has become the primary response to prevention against sexually
transmitted infection (STI) and unplanned pregnancies amongst young people. However,
not much is known about the perceptions of young men on sexual abstinence. The central
aim in this study was to explore the perceptions of sexual abstinence among young black
males. The research aims to examine men’s understandings of their own sexuality and the
way these might influence their decision on sexual abstinence. A total of 10 in-depth
semi-structured interviews were conducted individually with young men aged between 18
and 25 years, studying at The University of the Witwatersrand. All data collected were
then qualitatively analysed through the use of thematic content analysis (TCA). Findings
show that in constructing their masculinities participants predominantly endorsed
discourses of male hegemony. At some instances the young men retracted to subjective
alternative masculinities, although there was a stronger need to fit in with their peers, to
protect themselves from being ridiculed or rejected. As such conforming to the
hegemonic masculinity was expected. The young men constructed women as sexual
objects and as a means towards affirming their masculinity.
A key conclusion drawn was that some traditional notions of manhood still held sway,
and these tied in strongly with how these participants constructed their masculinity and
this influenced most of them to not sexually abstain.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/5915 |
| Date | 05 January 2009 |
| Creators | Khunwane, Mamakiri Nomina |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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