Izikhothani Perceptions on Women, Sex and Sexuality

Abstract

South African women are vulnerable to rape and other forms ofbrutality experienced at the hands of men, including their intimate partners. The culturally entrenched patriarchal system encourages the dominance of women by men and expresses the underlying tenor of sexual domination of women. So called 'traditional' forms of African masculinity in turn appear to disempower women and portray the African man as 'strong and aggressive.' The further socialization (normalization?) of various strands of hegemonic masculinity has been identified as the root of gender based violence. The izikhothani('township slang' for a man who is supposedly well groomed, and obsessive about fashion and styling his body) offer potentially (ln alternative construction of (heterosexual) masculinity. For the izikhothani, sex and sexualihj play a huge role, especially when it comes to their sense of how they see themselves and how they wish to be seen (by women). However, in tandem with their keen fashion sense and body grooming is their claim that women should be respected and not abused. Given this claim by the izikhothani, this paper brings an empirical gaze to how izikhothani construct their masculinity as well as their perceptions on how women should be treated sexually. The paper asks whether this can be viewed as a potentially alternate and 'softer' kind of African masculinih;. Findings reveal however, that rather than offer an alternate form of masculinih;, the izikhothani further objectify women, whilst simultaneously chorusing their respect for the opposite sex.