Masculinity construction : Grade 7 boys’ relations with girls at a township primary school in Gauteng East

Abstract

Guided by Connell’s social constructionist theory of hegemonic masculinity, in a study conducted at a township primary school in Gauteng East, I explored the way boys in Grade 7 interact with each other and girls, as a well as the way in which they understand the world around them in the context of gender relations. A purposive sampling method was used to select boys and girls to participate in this qualitative study. A total of 30 research participants, 17 boys and 13 girls, took part in this study. The methodology included the use of individual diaries and focus groups to solicit information and observe gender relations in boys and girls in the construction of masculinity. Masculinity in this study was constructed through power relations. The themes identified when analysing the social relationships between boys and girls were sexuality, the sturdy boy, homosociality, sex roles, defying authority and the comedian.