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From boys to men: exploring black masculinity ideologies about women in South Africa
Background: Masculinity is not a fixed identity but a socially constructed and culturally specific set of expectations about how men should behave. Among Xhosa men, the traditional rite of passage into manhood known as ulwaluko plays a key role in socialising boys into culturally sanctioned forms of...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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Department of Social Development
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613222590218240 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Phalezweni, Benathi |
| author2 | Manqoyi-Ouamba, Amanda |
| author_browse | Manqoyi-Ouamba, Amanda Phalezweni, Benathi |
| author_facet | Manqoyi-Ouamba, Amanda Phalezweni, Benathi |
| author_sort | Phalezweni, Benathi |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Background: Masculinity is not a fixed identity but a socially constructed and culturally specific set of expectations about how men should behave. Among Xhosa men, the traditional rite of passage into manhood known as ulwaluko plays a key role in socialising boys into culturally sanctioned forms of manhood. This rite often reinforces notions of toughness, self-reliance, and leadership, while discouraging emotional vulnerability. Over time, these ideologies shape how men relate to others, particularly women, and can contribute to controlling or coercive behaviours within intimate relationships. While not inherently harmful, such expectations can entrench power imbalances and contribute to conditions in which gender inequality becomes normalised. South Africa offers a powerful case study of how entrenched gender norms and patriarchal masculinities translate into widespread harm against women, where women are raped every 12 minutes and murdered every three hours often by their intimate partner. These norms are especially visible within Black communities, and it is from this observation that the researcher sought to investigate the ideologies of Black masculinity from the perspective of Xhosa men in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, focusing on how these beliefs influence men's attitudes and behaviours toward women. Methods: This study explores how masculinity ideologies among Xhosa men in the Eastern Cape influence their attitudes and behaviours toward women. Using an exploratory qualitative design, focus group interviews were conducted with 22 Xhosa men recruited from faith-based and community organisations addressing gender-based violence (GBV). Data were analysed using both thematic analysis and critical discourse analysis to identify key narratives around masculinity, gender roles, and relational dynamics. Findings: Findings reveal that culturally embedded masculinity ideals—especially those shaped through ulwaluko—reinforce beliefs in male dominance and female inferiority. These norms legitimise emotional coercion, sexual manipulation, and violence as expressions of authority, sustaining gender inequality and contributing to South Africa's ongoing GBV crisis. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42613 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:42.829Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Department of Social Development |
| publisherStr | Department of Social Development |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42613 From boys to men: exploring black masculinity ideologies about women in South Africa Phalezweni, Benathi Manqoyi-Ouamba, Amanda Black masculinity Women South Africa Background: Masculinity is not a fixed identity but a socially constructed and culturally specific set of expectations about how men should behave. Among Xhosa men, the traditional rite of passage into manhood known as ulwaluko plays a key role in socialising boys into culturally sanctioned forms of manhood. This rite often reinforces notions of toughness, self-reliance, and leadership, while discouraging emotional vulnerability. Over time, these ideologies shape how men relate to others, particularly women, and can contribute to controlling or coercive behaviours within intimate relationships. While not inherently harmful, such expectations can entrench power imbalances and contribute to conditions in which gender inequality becomes normalised. South Africa offers a powerful case study of how entrenched gender norms and patriarchal masculinities translate into widespread harm against women, where women are raped every 12 minutes and murdered every three hours often by their intimate partner. These norms are especially visible within Black communities, and it is from this observation that the researcher sought to investigate the ideologies of Black masculinity from the perspective of Xhosa men in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, focusing on how these beliefs influence men's attitudes and behaviours toward women. Methods: This study explores how masculinity ideologies among Xhosa men in the Eastern Cape influence their attitudes and behaviours toward women. Using an exploratory qualitative design, focus group interviews were conducted with 22 Xhosa men recruited from faith-based and community organisations addressing gender-based violence (GBV). Data were analysed using both thematic analysis and critical discourse analysis to identify key narratives around masculinity, gender roles, and relational dynamics. Findings: Findings reveal that culturally embedded masculinity ideals—especially those shaped through ulwaluko—reinforce beliefs in male dominance and female inferiority. These norms legitimise emotional coercion, sexual manipulation, and violence as expressions of authority, sustaining gender inequality and contributing to South Africa's ongoing GBV crisis. 2026-01-20T06:41:58Z 2026-01-20T06:41:58Z 2025 2026-01-19T11:54:40Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters Masters http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42613 en eng application/pdf Department of Social Development Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Black masculinity Women South Africa Phalezweni, Benathi From boys to men: exploring black masculinity ideologies about women in South Africa |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | From boys to men: exploring black masculinity ideologies about women in South Africa |
| title_full | From boys to men: exploring black masculinity ideologies about women in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | From boys to men: exploring black masculinity ideologies about women in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | From boys to men: exploring black masculinity ideologies about women in South Africa |
| title_short | From boys to men: exploring black masculinity ideologies about women in South Africa |
| title_sort | from boys to men exploring black masculinity ideologies about women in south africa |
| topic | Black masculinity Women South Africa |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42613 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT phalezwenibenathi fromboystomenexploringblackmasculinityideologiesaboutwomeninsouthafrica |