Becoming Men is the story of 32 boys from Alexandra, one of Johannesburg's largest
townships, over a period of twelve seminal years in which they negotiate
manhood and masculinity. Psychologist and academic Malose Langa documents in
close detail what it means to be a young black man in contemporary South
Africa.
The boys discuss a range of topics including the impact of absent fathers,
relationships with mothers, siblings and girls, school violence, academic
performance, homophobia, gangsterism, unemployment and, in one case, prison
life.
Deep ambivalence, self-doubt and hesitation emerge in their approach to alternative
masculinities premised on non-violent, non-sexist and non-risk-taking
behaviour. Many of the boys appear simultaneously to comply with and oppose the
prevalent norms, thereby exposing the difficulties of negotiating the multiple
voices of masculinity.
Providing a rich interpretation of how emotional processes affect black adolescent males,
Langa suggests interventions and services to support and assist them,
especially in reducing high-risk behaviours generally associated with hegemonic masculinity.
This is essential reading for students, researchers and scholars of gender studies
who wish to understand manhood and masculinity in South Africa. Psychologists,
youth workers, lay counsellors and teachers who work with adolescent boys will
also find it invaluable. Becoming Men is the story of 32 boys from Alexandra,
one of Johannesburg's largest townships, over a period of twelve seminal years
in which they negotiate manhood and masculinity. Psychologist and academic
Malose Langa documents in close detail what it means to be a young black man in
contemporary South Africa.
