Abstract
M.A. (Clinical Social Work)
Gender-based violence is a social phenomenon affecting South African communities in a very pervasive way. Even though there are studies conducted regularly on gender-based violence generally, it seems that very little is known regarding the attitudes that fuel gender-based violence in South Africa. It is within this background that this study was conducted at a secondary school in the town of Pienaar in the Mpumalanga province.
This quantitative study engaged 95 adolescent Grade 10 boys, with the aim of understanding the attitudes of male adolescent learners towards gender-based violence. A questionnaire was developed with measurement tools adopted from a compendium of assessments, and data was collected through self-administered questionnaires. This data was captured and analysed through the Statistical Programme for Social Services.
The study revealed that the attitude and perceptions of adolescent boys relating to gender-based violence appear to stem from their social environment. In addition, there seems to be an upholding of gender stereotypic attitudes that are patriarchal in nature. Peer violence is commonly known to have an influence on gender-based violence, however in this study interpersonal peer violence was not observed as a way in which boys gain their strength and power amongst other peers. What was disturbing was that many male learners seem to accept that gender-based violence as normal and acceptable if perpetrated by male on female but not in favour when it is perpetrated by female on male. Findings showed that participants were already exposed to patriarchal and traditional practices of gender relations that influenced their attitudes and perceptions towards gender-based violence.