Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - October 3, 2004
Futhi Ntshingila
Preliminary results from an ongoing study for the private Population Council group of 3000 Gauteng men aged between 15 and 34 reveal that many South African men still hold some disturbing views towards women.
The study shows that:
*27% of men believe that if a women has been drinking, it is her fault if she is raped;
*42% say a women who wears a miniskirt and drinks is asking for trouble;
*29% believe a man needs sex with other women besides his wife; and
*21% believe a flirting woman wants sex.
The three-year study is a result of collaboration with international non-governmental organisations EngenderHealth and Hope Worldwide to evaluate the impact of a Men as Partners project which targets young men.
But Jane Chege, principal investigator of the study, says there are some signs of more enlightened thinking, particularly in the younger generation.
For example, only 3% believe it is fine for a man to hit his wife, 90% understand that "no" means no in sexual activity and 86% claim to share the housework.
There is still a negative stereotype, however, about men's detachment from their families. "Women complain that men engage in unacceptable social behaviour such as alcoholism and drug abuse. They fail to provide for the family. There is a diminishing role of fathers as advisers and a lack of good role models," says Chege.
Dean Peacock, programme manager of EngenderHealth, says the study will assist the project in its work with young men. The project aims to reduce the spread and impact of HIV/Aids. "We know men can be part of the solution. We see it all the time in our work - they challenge other men's attitudes in taxis and schools," he says.
Comedian Marc Lottering says it is unfortunate that such attitudes still exist in 2004. And soccer player John "Shoes" Moshoeu says: "We no longer act like men ... it is an insult."
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