Abstract
M.A. (Clinical Social Work)
Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a global social phenomenon with up to 70 percent of women reporting exposure to some form of GBV in their lifetime (World Health Organization, 2012). Johannesburg is considered to be one of the most violent cities in the world and termed the “rape capital of the world” (World Report on Violence and Health, 2002). Flood (2007) suggests that a key determinant of such widespread GBV can be attributed to gender attitudes. Gender attitudes are established early in the development cycle of young people; hence this study aimed to test an intervention in high school, aimed at dealing with gender attitudes. A quasi - experimental mixed methods research design was conducted with 13 male adolescents at a government high school in Gauteng to ascertain their knowledge, attitudes and practices of GBV.
A pre-post-test questionnaire was developed with measurement tools adopted from a collection of assessments and data was collected through self-administered questionnaires. Data was captured and analysed using non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test to determine the statistical significance of the difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the participants, to measure attitude changes. An eight-week socialization group, based on the recommendations from the Stepping stones program, constituted the intervention program. Qualitative data was obtained from the discussions of this program and observations of research participants.
The intervention program yielded varying results in developing knowledge and changing the underlying gender attitudes that contribute to GBV with school going male adolescents. Constructs that showed a positive impact included couple violence, attitudes towards women and male on female violence. A moderate impact was noticed on three constructs which were general dating violence, gender norms and gender stereotyping. Only a small impact was evident on three constructs, namely: perpetration in dating relationships, female on male violence and experiences of violence. Overall the program was successful in some areas and had minimal impact in other areas. More long-term and consistent interventions are required with boys and longitudinal study, are some of the key recommendations.