Abstract
On a global scale, male rape remains an ongoing problem in terms of human rights. This qualitative study provides an in-depth exploration of South African police officers’ perceptions and responses towards male victims of rape through the dual lenses of intersectionality theory and Connell’s theoretical framework on hegemonic masculinity. The study recognises male rape as an underexplored yet pressing issue in South Africa’s gender-based violence landscape. This study does not serve to disprove the claim that women account for the vast majority of rape offences committed by men, especially when those offences are more severe and widespread. Indeed, men make up the overwhelming majority of those who commit these crimes.
Rape victimisation is typically characterised as unidirectional, representing male dominance on the part of the rapist, as well as an expression of power and control. However, there are certain circumstances in which this supposed power and control exercised by men proves irrelevant. For example, when a woman forces herself on a man or when a man rapes another man. The typical understanding of rape implies a conflation between the concept of manhood and power. In this study, I argue that the notion that we can comprehend and describe men in terms of a particular behavioural component is problematic.
Methodologically, the study breaks new ground by privileging the narratives of police officers as frontline implementers and policy subjects; a significant departure from the predominant focus on case file analysis or quantitative studies on male rape research in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 South African Police Service (SAPS) officers across different ranks, genders, and tenure.
The findings reveal that male victims encounter significant barriers when seeking justice and support through the SAPS. Myths and stigma around male rape deter reporting, and male victims are often excluded from police training and public campaigns. Traditional ideals of masculinity also contribute to the scepticism about, and lack of support for, male victims.
In addition, examining the intersection of homophobia and gender norms, particularly the challenges faced by gay male victims, the findings highlighted police officers
advocating for more empathetic and emotionally intelligent policing and undergoing personal transformations as they confronted their own biases. The participants emphasised the need for reform within the police force to address the marginalisation of male victims and offered new insights into gender-based violence in the Global South. The study was rooted in African feminist thought and intersectional praxis, amplifying underrepresented voices often overlooked in Western-centric discussions about masculinity and victimhood.
Furthermore, the findings also reveal the patriarchal nature of South Africa’s criminal justice institutions in handling male rape cases. The study paves the way for future research and advocacy by emphasising action-oriented methodologies and collaboration among various stakeholders. It aims to challenge narrow views of victimhood, address institutional masculinities, and amplify diverse resistance narratives to work towards justice for all victims.