Abstract
Adolescent males are most likely to rape when raised in communities characterized by low levels of morality; where adults perpetrate violence against women, schools are disorganized, parents are dysfunctional and culture oppresses the rights of women. Such youth tend to sexually assault others, lack empathy, are aggressive, manipulative and engage in risk-taking behaviours (multiple- sexual partners, unsafe sex, and substance abuse). The researchers intended to investigate the impact of culture on rape by adolescent males. The participants of the study comprised 18 male adolescents which have been selected purposively in Ntselamanzi village, Eastern Cape, using an explorative, descriptive qualitative research design. The findings of this study show that there is an urgent need for sexuality education for South African youth, since the participants revealed that their sexual prowess is influenced by hegemonic masculinity, substance abuse and mass-media. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n10p541
Highlights
South Africa has got a high rate of sexual offences among adolescent males in the world (Mawson & Basson, 2011; Petersen, Bhana & McKay, 2005)
Adolescent males are most likely to rape when raised in communities characterized by low levels of morality; where adults perpetrate violence against women, schools are disorganized, parents are dysfunctional and culture oppresses the rights of women (Holborn & Eddy, 2011; Kann, 2008; Morkel, Wibbelsman, & Seigal, 2011)
Bachrach and Sonestein (2002), stress that adolescent males who are fathers as a result of rape do not comply with the traditional notion of what it means to be a father, because of their age and lack of resources to provide for their families
Summary
South Africa has got a high rate of sexual offences among adolescent males in the world (Mawson & Basson, 2011; Petersen, Bhana & McKay, 2005). According to Jewkes, Skweyiya, Morrell and Dunkle (2006), rape refers to any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed against woman’s sexuality, using coercion (i.e., psychological intimidation, physical force, or threats of harm), by any person regardless of relationship to the victim, in any setting, including home, school and work. Malan (2013) asserts that gender hierarchy and males’ perception of what it means to be a man, contribute to sexual aggression of adolescent males to devalue the worth of females by being violent and less agreeable to negotiating safe sex with their partners- the stereotype that is in contrast with what feminist theory advocates Petersen et al, (2005), found that, in relation to cultural/environmental influences, boys were reportedly socialized from an early age into traditional patriarchal notions of masculinity, which promote and legitimize unequal gendered power relations. Malan (2013) asserts that gender hierarchy and males’ perception of what it means to be a man, contribute to sexual aggression of adolescent males to devalue the worth of females by being violent and less agreeable to negotiating safe sex with their partners- the stereotype that is in contrast with what feminist theory advocates
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