African Adolescent Males and Rape in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: A Need for Sexuality Education

Abstract

Adolescent males are most likely to rape when raised in communities characterized by low levels of morality; where adults perpetrate violence against women, schools are disorganized, parents are dysfunctional and culture oppresses the rights of women. Such youth tend to sexually assault others, lack empathy, are aggressive, manipulative and engage in risk-taking behaviours (multiple- sexual partners, unsafe sex, and substance abuse). The researchers intended to investigate the impact of culture on rape by adolescent males. The participants of the study comprised 18 male adolescents which have been selected purposively in Ntselamanzi village, Eastern Cape, using an explorative, descriptive qualitative research design. The findings of this study show that there is an urgent need for sexuality education for South African youth, since the participants revealed that their sexual prowess is influenced by hegemonic masculinity, substance abuse and mass-media.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n10p541