ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the intersections of gender, class, geo-political location, and, in some cases, race in the ways in which they construct, navigate, and live out their masculinities, paying particular attention to the subject of sexual violence. Traditionally, bridal payments, sometimes referred to as “bridewealth,” consisted of the groom performing services for his in-laws and giving gifts such as livestock, fabrics, jewelry, and other socially acceptable items. South Africa was one of the first African countries to institute legislation against marital rape in 1993, but research reveals that patriarchal attitudes still influence how the courts handle cases of marital rape. The chapter examines discussions about expected and accepted expressions of manhood, particularly in relation to women. Themes of leadership, provisioning, responsibility, bravery, marriage, and family loom large, while at the same time the men discuss challenges in living out these expectations in today’s socioeconomic contexts. Thus, gender shapes the ways that sexual violence comes to be constructed, recognized, and interpreted.
