Becoming men : black masculinities in a South African township / Malose Langa.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Langa, Malose, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Men--South Africa.

Men.

Masculinity--South Africa.

Masculinity.

Afrikaners--Social conditions.

Afrikaners.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 190 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Johannesburg : Wits University Press, 2020.

Summary:

Becoming Men is the story of 32 boys from Alexandra, one of Johannesburg's largest townships, over a period of twelve seminal years in which they negotiate manhood and masculinity. Psychologist and academic Malose Langa documents in close detail what it means to be a young black man in contemporary South Africa. The boys discuss a range of topics including the impact of absent fathers, relationships with mothers, siblings and girls, school violence, academic performance, homophobia, gangsterism, unemployment and, in one case, prison life. Deep ambivalence, self-doubt and hesitation emerge in their approach to alternative masculinities premised on non-violent, non-sexist and non-risk-taking behaviour. Many of the boys appear simultaneously to comply with and oppose the prevalent norms, thereby exposing the difficulties of negotiating the multiple voices of masculinity.Providing a rich interpretation of how emotional processes affect black adolescent males, Langa suggests interventions and services to support and assist them, especially in reducing high-risk behaviours generally associated with hegemonic masculinity. This is essential reading for students, researchers and scholars of gender studies who wish to understand manhood and masculinity in South Africa. Psychologists, youth workers, lay counsellors and teachers who work with adolescent boys will also find it invaluable. Becoming Men is the story of 32 boys from Alexandra, one of Johannesburg's largest townships, over a period of twelve seminal years in which they negotiate manhood and masculinity. Psychologist and academic Malose Langa documents in close detail what it means to be a young black man in contemporary South Africa. The boys discuss a range of topics including the impact of absent fathers, relationships with mothers, siblings and girls, school violence, academic performance, homophobia, gangsterism, unemployment and, in one case, prison life. Deep ambivalence, self-doubt and hesitation emerge in their approach to alternative masculinities premised on non-violent, non-sexist and non-risk-taking behaviour. Many of the boys appear simultaneously to comply with and oppose the prevalent norms, thereby exposing the difficulties of negotiating the multiple voices of masculinity. Providing a rich interpretation of how emotional processes affect black adolescent males, Langa suggests interventions and services to support and assist them, especially in reducing high-risk behaviours generally associated with hegemonic masculinity. This is essential reading for students, researchers and scholars of gender studies who wish to understand manhood and masculinity in South Africa. Psychologists, youth workers, lay counsellors and teachers who work with adolescent boys will also find it invaluable. Understanding of new developments in publishing industry (Involves research and strategic thinking skills).

Contents:

Front Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Acknowledgements

1: What Makes a Man a Man?

2: Reshaping Masculinities - Understanding the Lives of Adolescent Boys

The notion of hegemonic masculinity in context

Risk-taking behaviours of school-age boys

Alternative masculinities

Part of the problem or part of the solution?

Understanding masculine subjectivity

3: Backdrop to Alex - South African Townships and Stories in Context

Getting the picture

Individual and group interviews

4: Absent Fathers, Present Mothers

5: Pressures to Perform - Tsotsi Boys vs Academic Achievement

6: Double Standards - Dating, Sex and Girls

7: Defying Homophobia: 'This is Who I am, Finish and Klaar'

Hilton's story

Marcus's story

8: Young Fathers and the World of Work

Martin's story

Herman's story

Themba's story

9: 'I'm Still Hopeful, Still Positive' - Holding onto a Dream

Simon's story

10: Safe Spaces - Listening, Hearing, Action

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Back Cover.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 21 Sep 2020).

ISBN:

1-77614-568-2

OCLC:

1147973380