Masculinities, militarisation and unsafe sexual practices: a case study of a young man in the South African military

Abstract

abstract While there is growing concern about, and focus on, the role of dominant constructions of masculinity and male sexuality, this remains a marginalised area of research in the broader terrain of HIV research and intervention. Men are known to dominate women's sexual lives as they dictate the terms of the relationship and negotiate, for example, whether or not a condom will be used. Yet the focus of South African research has been predominantly on women. Given that constructions of masculinities and male sexuality have received relatively little attention, this focus examines—through a case study of a young man in the military in South Africa—how male stereotyped masculinity intersects with and facilitates unsafe sexual practices. Considering that HIV has been shown to be more rampant among soldiers than civilians around the world, and taking into account the masculinist, macho culture that prevails in military settings, a study on men in this subculture is considered a relevant one for the broader task of understanding and challenging hegemonic male sexual practices. This case study emerges out of a larger qualitative study on men in the military which explores how they construct their masculinity and how this is interwoven with their sexual practices. The case study's findings are presented to demonstrate in particular the ways in which the participant understands and makes meaning of his masculinity and sexual practices.