Male perpetrators' construction of masculine identity: Attitudes and beliefs on intimate-partner violence

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY: Intimate-partner violence (IPV) severely affects the emotional and physical wellbeing of women who are abused by their partners (Coker et al., 2002). Despite intimate-partner violence being such a serious problem, limited research has been conducted on male perpetrators' attitudes, beliefs and experiences of intimate-partner violence. The purpose of this study was to examine male perpetrators' constructions of their masculine identity, and to determine how this influences their attitudes and beliefs on intimate-partner violence. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 men who had been apprehended for a domestic violence-related offence and referred, by the court or the South African Police Service, to Khulisa Social Solutions to attend a diversion programme in Mitchell's Plain and Gugulethu. Participants were referred to the Khulisa Social Solutions offices in Mitchell's Plain and Gugulethu.A qualitative research design was used to explore these male perpetrators' understandings of their masculinity and their views on intimate-partner violence in order to gain more insight into men's violent behaviour towards their partners. The data was analysed using grounded theory. The results indicate a relationship between intimate-partner violence and various risk factors, such as witnessing violence as a child, substance abuse and peer pressure. The themes that emerged from the data revealed that men who witnessed violence as children were more at risk of committing violent acts later in life. Participants were also more inclined to blame their abuse on their partners' substance use and considered it their right to reprimand them if they acted 'out of line' with their (men's) expectations. The findings of the study therefore reveal that men's understanding of their masculine identity can be shaped by various social and environmental factors that can influence their ideas and beliefs on intimate-partner violence.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University