| Summary: | This study explored adolescent township boys’ attitudes and perceptions towards sexual
relationships. There has been substantial evidence in recent literature that violence
against women is a problem worldwide and a growing concern, especially in South
Africa (Human Rights Watch, 2001; Jewkes, Levin, Mbananga & Bradshaw, 2002;
Statistics South Africa, 2005; Stats SA Archive, 2002). In addition, it appears that South
African girls are more likely to be sexually assaulted by one, or more of their male
classmates (Haffejee, 2006; Human Rights Watch, 2001; Mirsky, 2003; Posel, 2005).
Moreover, adolescents’ attitudes regarding violence against girls have been found to help
perpetuate such violence (Lewis, 2000; Varga, 2003; Vogelman, 1990). On the basis of
the socialisation theory, it was postulated that the way in which a boy is socialised in his
home, school, peer group and society at large, impacts on his attitudes and perceptions of
rape and hence the incidence of sexual violence in South Africa (Vogelman, 1990). This
study therefore aimed to understand and investigate male adolescents’ perceptions and
attitudes towards gender stereotypes, sexual consent and rape supportive beliefs or myths,
in particular, focusing on what the construct of ‘rape’ is perceived to be. The subjective
world of adolescent township boys was explored within the qualitative paradigm.
In investigating the research aims, 11 adolescent boys, aged between 16 and 19 attending
one high school in Alexandra participated in the study. The research was conducted in
the form of both semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups of 3-5
participants. Various psychological, social and emotional themes relating to the theory of
socialisation were explored. The participants’ responses were recorded and then analysed
utilising content analysis. From the analysis one can infer that society has got a major
role to play in attitudes towards sexual assault and how it is dealt with. It was found that
the majority of the participants in this study have adopted some rape supportive beliefs
and ideas, and have been heavily encouraged to display, and hence do display some sexrole
stereotypes and hegemonic masculinity. This study therefore supports the notion
that socialisation factors play an important role in the development of stereotypical
notions of sex role behaviour in adolescent males, which may further contribute to the
incidence of rape.
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