Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / It is widely accepted that South African youth are particularly at risk of unplanned
pregnancies and infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Research addressing the issue of HIV and
reproductive health problems among young adolescents has largely focused on
exploring the sexual behaviour of young women. The perceptions and attitudes of
young men toward sexuality have been neglected, thus perpetuating gender bias. It is
argued that the dominant focus on women is a flawed strategy for prevention and that
researchers also need to listen to the voices of young men when it comes to studying
sexuality (Thorpe, 2002; Morrell, 2002). The aim of this study is to explore how
adolescent men in rural communities in the Western Cape experience and construct a
masculine sexuality.
Two-hundred-and-thirty-one Coloured adolescent men aged 12 to 20, who attend a
rural high school in the Langeberg District, Western Cape, completed selfadministered
anonymous questionnaires. The aim was to document (1) the range and
extent of rural adolescent males’ sexual behaviour and (2) to determine the levels of
knowledge and perceptions that rural adolescent men have regarding condom use and
contraceptives, as well as the sources from which they receive their knowledge. Of
the sample, 37.9% had had sexual intercourse before, 41% never used contraceptives
when having sexual intercourse and almost 60% believed that the use of contraception
is the women’s responsibility.
In addition, 21 individual interviews were conducted with both sexually active and
non- active rural adolescent men to understand how they construct a masculine
sexuality. Interviews revealed that young men generally regret their first sexual
experience and that the experience of having sexual intercourse does not necessarily
prove that you are a ‘real man’. According to some of these young men, masculinity
is not proven via sexual coercion or sexual intercourse, but being gentle and caring at
all times. However, male-to-male sex is not considered masculine, but just perceived
to be ‘morsig’ (disgusting).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2702 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Wildschutt, Alvino Vernal |
| Contributors | Gouws, A., Lesch, E., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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