Emerging Alternative Young Black Masculinities in South Africa

This chapter provides an overview of young black masculinities and how they are changing post-1994 with the support of public initiatives by non-governmental organisations aimed at promoting gender equality and eradicating gender-based violence. This chapter discusses the limitations of the concept of hegemonic masculinity, especially when applied rigidly in the South African context without acknowledging how race and class intersect in young black men’s lives as they negotiate their masculine identities. Three themes—gender-based violence, fatherhood and violent crime—are used as examples to critically discuss how young black masculinities are shifting to embrace attitudes and views that are opposed to violence against women and violent crime more generally. These young men are also more accommodating of new positive voices of fatherhood—not only based on the ability to provide materially, but also emotional presence and willingness to engage in parenting activities such as bathing one’s child, changing nappies and other care duties traditionally associated with women. While these findings provide hope for a better future in terms of gender relations, it is important that public initiatives aimed at transforming young black masculinities are scientifically researched to assess their effectiveness in bringing about this gender change.