Violence, Rape And Murder: Symptoms of Societal Disease
By: Pandu HailongaI COULD not help but follow with great care the debate over the past weeks on the recent murders of two minors in Windhoek and Swakopmund.
I, like everyone else, reacted with horror, as expressed throughout
the country by means of demonstrations and verbal and written
condemnation, and culminating in the debate about the reinstatement
of the death penalty.
It must be pointed out that the abovementioned incidents are but
a few of the reported cases in our country.
During 2003 more than 1000 cases of rape were reported, 29 of
which were rapes of children (Sister Namibia).
It is also a wellknown fact that a number of women have died at
the hands of their husbands or partners, and that not all cases of
rape are reported.
The events of the past weeks challenge us to re-examine our
society.
The question of what to do about these offenders has been
debated strongly, with many even suggesting the re-introduction of
the death penalty.
However, we need to look more closely at the 'why' question? Why
has the number of rapes and violent incidents increased? Why do men
commit these horrible acts? Have we as a society lost our sense of
our humanity? To answer some these questions we need to examine the
concept of manhood in our society.
In this paper I will limit my discussion to the concept of
manhood, and more especially its definition.
Manhood is understood differently by different people.
The older generation may define 'manhood' as a description of a
man who is competent, manages his household; has a strong sense of
respect and respectability.
The younger generation may refer to 'manhood' as describing
someone who is: tough; a player; competitive, acting as a protector
and a virile male.
On the other hand, womanhood is associated with the
characteristics of being sensible, tender, nurturing and
caring.
Men are expected to be the providers and protectors and who are
self-sufficient.
As a society we have inculcated in the man the belief that they
need to be tough, to prove their physical strength and never show
emotions.
Men in turn learn to deny their emotions and focus all their
needs regarding physical affection and nurturing into the sex
act.
They become both emotionally incompetent and emotionally
constipated (Doyle, 1989).
The definition of manhood is associated with power.
Power is the capacity to dominate, to control, capacity to act
in powerful ways.
Human beings possess the power to meet their needs, the power to
fight injustice and oppression; the power of muscles and brain and
the power of love.
Contrary to this, men have come to see power as a capacity to
impose control on others and on their own unruly emotions (Kaufman,
1997).
While historically a 'real' man was seen as a protector,
powerful and the provider; woman was viewed as the caretaker,
nurturer and peacemaker.
However, the historical events of the country such as
colonialism, apartheid, globalisation and our current education
system have drastically changed this concept and definition.
The Namibian historical background is a violent history.
A history that stripped the people of their humanity.
The genocide, dehumanisation of the people through forced
labour, expropriation of land and appropriation of cattle all
contributed to the redefinition of manhood.
The man the protector, powerful, and the provider, was no
longer.
His master called him "boy", and he was humiliated through all
structures of society.
For those who became contract workers, the system negatively
affected them, their family and the society they came in contact
with.
The last- mentioned was critical because workers who laboured
away from their homes were not allowed to get married.
But the reality was that these contract workers developed
relationships with women in the city and the places they worked,
but due to circumstances and legislation they were not able to
marry them.
This fact consequently contributed to the high numbers of single
women and fatherless children.
In Katutura alone it is reported that close to 40 percent of
children are being raised by a single mother.
With the reality of HIV/AIDS this situation will get worse as we
are already seeing households headed by children as a result of
their being orphaned.
This situation is further complicated by the fact that the
societal structures, such as the family, church, school and civil
society that could assist members of society is non-existent or has
become weak.
As a society we are finding ourselves borrowing from various
cultures we come in contact with, which in turn challenge our own
value systems.
Many will say that we as a society have lost our culture and
tradition, and there is no longer a sense of respect or care.
Children are growing up in fatherless households, which may
negatively affect the children in particular, the young boy (this
may also be affected by the economic status of the mother).
Moreover, the whole concept of parenting seems to be
misunderstood.
For some it is measured by virtue of just having a child, or in
terms of money, especially the R300.00 that is required per month
for maintenance.
Unfortunately missing is the key element of parenting which is
love, (emotional support) and spending quality time with your
son/child for that matter.
With the patriarchal system in mind, black men are most likely
to leave their families when faced with unemployment especially if
they subscribe to the idea of the male as breadwinner - the
so-called escapist behaviour, where men are seen as irresponsible
in not caring for their children (Hof, 1996).
There are other cultural factors that contribute to men not
taking care of their children, especially if the parents are not
married and if they happen to practice the matrilineal system,
where it is said the child belongs to her mother.
While our per capita GDP is one of the highest on the continent,
we have close to or over half the population living below the
poverty line.
Moreover, we have close to 50 percent of grade 10 learners
dropping out of school, and the policy that they cannot be taken
back into schools means that we are throwing the future of young
people away.
Many find themselves sitting at home with nothing to do.
Others, if they are lucky, get to repeat grade 10.
Many of them, sitting around on street corners in the township,
bored, gives them a chance to engage in mischievous activities;
others go downtown and sit at traffic lights hoping that someone
will pick them up and offer them temporary menial employment (this
scene is commonplace and we are confronted with it every day when
we leave for work).
Some, frustrated, turn to violence or alcoholism.
The situation of hopelessness for these youngsters is written
all over their faces.
In a situation of poverty and helplessness, many people in many
of our townships turn to alcohol.
This is easy to do as alcohol is easily accessible in our
townships.
The use and abuse of alcohol is also indirectly promoted through
our policies and the way we give out trading licences in
Katutura.
For example, in The Namibian of 13 September, 2004 with
reference to the Rezoning of Erven, in one street alone (Eveline
Street, Goreangab) 26 erven were going to be rezoned to sell
alcohol.
These liquor activities are in the township were the majority of
the poor and Grade 10 dropouts are residing, while no (or few)
liquor businesses or shebeens are to be found operating from
people's homes in the suburbs.
Ironically, we react with shock and disbelief when people commit
these activities because they are under the influence of
alcohol.
Perhaps we need to re- evaluate how we licence liquor
activities.
As a society influenced by the patriarchal structure, we still
unrealistically hang on to the traditional definition of what it
means to be a man irrespective of the high unemployment rate and
weakened traditional values, compounded by the increase of the
number of women who are educated.
For example, the University of Namibia reported that out of 1045
graduates, 646 were females (61 percent) with males making up 399
(UNAM annual report 2002).
Also the majority of the programmes, both governmental and
non-governmental, are geared towards empowering women.
Consequently, men devise ways to maintain their masculinity and
to sustain their self-esteem.
For some, to redress their position of marginalisation and
powerlessness, they join political leaders; gangsters; diamond
dealers and car syndicates, others become cash thieves - all for
the sake of maintaining masculinity.
Other men direct their feelings of powerlessness and
marginalization to rape and violence.
They turn to abuse and misuse of women and children.
When men experience a lack of power or feelings of emasculation;
they have to heighten their masculine insecurities.
Given the fact that manhood is associated with power, and being
powerless is seen as unmanly, violence becomes a means to prove
otherwise to others and oneself.
(Kaufman, 1997).
Ironically, the majority of our programmes do not address the
challenges facing men, the programmes are all geared towards
empowering women.
This is an unhealthy approach given the fact that most of the
problems come about because of the powerlessness of men and other
factors.
The definition of manhood needs to be adjusted to the current
social, economic and political realities.
According to Hooks, (1995) … "To expect men to act as
protectors and providers as a way of earning the status of
patriarch seems ludicrous given the economy, the shift in gender
roles, the inability of many black males to provide either
economically or emotionally for themselves and their inability to
protect themselves against life-threatening white supremacist
patriarchal assault, with which they are all too often complicit
for example, black on black homicide.
The homicide is itself an expression of patriarchal masculinity,
as it is patriarchy that demands that males prove their
manhood…" It is unrealistic and unfair to do this to our
men.
In conclusion, this paper is aimed at starting the debate on the
definition of manhood and what society can do to address the
challenges facing us as a nation.
As the paper argues, while it is a privilege to have power,
power also creates fear and pain.
And some respond differently to fear and to the wounds they
experience in the quest for power.
They devise mechanisms to maintain their masculinity
(employment; politics; gangsterism; car syndicates); others direct
their feelings of powerlessness and marginalization to rape and
violence.
They turn to abuse and misuse of women and children.
Understanding the concept of manhood is critical to our ability
to address the symptoms of violence and rape in our society.
These include, among others: * A realistic definition of
manhood, taking into consideration the socio economic
realities.
* Implementing mechanisms to support single parents with
parenting.
(How do we expect young boys to behave differently if they do
not have any role models?) * Re-think programmes that only focus on
women and make funding available that support programmes that are
gender neutral.
* Time to control the number of shebeens in the townships, and
provide training to community members how to drink
'responsibly'.
Before we complain about the number of criminal activities, and
the crime committed by the youth, we need to rethink the policy of
not accommodating grade 10 dropout one way or another in the
community.
Do we need to have an affordable, accessible, available high
school, which provides quality education to grade 10 dropouts? We
also need to look at how we address other factors that contribute
to this sorry situation.
Notes: Hooks, bell.(1992). Reconstructing Black Masculinity.
In Black Looks: Race and Representation.Boston, MA: South End
Press (Also in Perchuk, Andrew and Posner, Helaine.
(eds).(1995). Hof c. & Richter, A (1996) Teenage Pregnancy
in Zimbabwe: Problematic or Not? Early childbearing in historical
and socio-cultural perspective".
Unpublished. Kaufman, M. (1997) Longer Articles on Men,
Masculinity, and Men's Violence. The Seven P's of Men's Violence.
Men, Feminism, and Men's Contradictory Experiences of Power
HYPERLINK www.michaelkaufman.com/longarticles.html
www.michaelkaufman.com/longarticles.html Access 19/08/2000
University of Namibia (2002) Annual Report, Printech * The author
of this opinion piece, Pandu Hailonga, has just completed a Phd
thesis entitled: Adolescent Sexuality and reproductive Behaviour in
Nambia: A socio-historical analysis.
It must be pointed out that the abovementioned incidents are but a
few of the reported cases in our country.During 2003 more than 1000
cases of rape were reported, 29 of which were rapes of children
(Sister Namibia).It is also a wellknown fact that a number of women
have died at the hands of their husbands or partners, and that not
all cases of rape are reported.The events of the past weeks
challenge us to re-examine our society.The question of what to do
about these offenders has been debated strongly, with many even
suggesting the re-introduction of the death penalty.However, we
need to look more closely at the 'why' question? Why has the number
of rapes and violent incidents increased? Why do men commit these
horrible acts? Have we as a society lost our sense of our humanity?
To answer some these questions we need to examine the concept of
manhood in our society.In this paper I will limit my discussion to
the concept of manhood, and more especially its definition. Manhood
is understood differently by different people.The older generation
may define 'manhood' as a description of a man who is competent,
manages his household; has a strong sense of respect and
respectability.The younger generation may refer to 'manhood' as
describing someone who is: tough; a player; competitive, acting as
a protector and a virile male.On the other hand, womanhood is
associated with the characteristics of being sensible, tender,
nurturing and caring.Men are expected to be the providers and
protectors and who are self-sufficient.As a society we have
inculcated in the man the belief that they need to be tough, to
prove their physical strength and never show emotions.Men in turn
learn to deny their emotions and focus all their needs regarding
physical affection and nurturing into the sex act.They become both
emotionally incompetent and emotionally constipated (Doyle, 1989).
The definition of manhood is associated with power.Power is the
capacity to dominate, to control, capacity to act in powerful
ways.Human beings possess the power to meet their needs, the power
to fight injustice and oppression; the power of muscles and brain
and the power of love.Contrary to this, men have come to see power
as a capacity to impose control on others and on their own unruly
emotions (Kaufman, 1997).While historically a 'real' man was seen
as a protector, powerful and the provider; woman was viewed as the
caretaker, nurturer and peacemaker.However, the historical events
of the country such as colonialism, apartheid, globalisation and
our current education system have drastically changed this concept
and definition. The Namibian historical background is a violent
history.A history that stripped the people of their humanity.The
genocide, dehumanisation of the people through forced labour,
expropriation of land and appropriation of cattle all contributed
to the redefinition of manhood.The man the protector, powerful, and
the provider, was no longer.His master called him "boy", and he was
humiliated through all structures of society.For those who became
contract workers, the system negatively affected them, their family
and the society they came in contact with.The last- mentioned was
critical because workers who laboured away from their homes were
not allowed to get married.But the reality was that these contract
workers developed relationships with women in the city and the
places they worked, but due to circumstances and legislation they
were not able to marry them.This fact consequently contributed to
the high numbers of single women and fatherless children.In
Katutura alone it is reported that close to 40 percent of children
are being raised by a single mother.With the reality of HIV/AIDS
this situation will get worse as we are already seeing households
headed by children as a result of their being orphaned.This
situation is further complicated by the fact that the societal
structures, such as the family, church, school and civil society
that could assist members of society is non-existent or has become
weak.As a society we are finding ourselves borrowing from various
cultures we come in contact with, which in turn challenge our own
value systems.Many will say that we as a society have lost our
culture and tradition, and there is no longer a sense of respect or
care.Children are growing up in fatherless households, which may
negatively affect the children in particular, the young boy (this
may also be affected by the economic status of the
mother).Moreover, the whole concept of parenting seems to be
misunderstood.For some it is measured by virtue of just having a
child, or in terms of money, especially the R300.00 that is
required per month for maintenance.Unfortunately missing is the key
element of parenting which is love, (emotional support) and
spending quality time with your son/child for that matter.With the
patriarchal system in mind, black men are most likely to leave
their families when faced with unemployment especially if they
subscribe to the idea of the male as breadwinner - the so-called
escapist behaviour, where men are seen as irresponsible in not
caring for their children (Hof, 1996).There are other cultural
factors that contribute to men not taking care of their children,
especially if the parents are not married and if they happen to
practice the matrilineal system, where it is said the child belongs
to her mother.While our per capita GDP is one of the highest on the
continent, we have close to or over half the population living
below the poverty line.Moreover, we have close to 50 percent of
grade 10 learners dropping out of school, and the policy that they
cannot be taken back into schools means that we are throwing the
future of young people away.Many find themselves sitting at home
with nothing to do.Others, if they are lucky, get to repeat grade
10.Many of them, sitting around on street corners in the township,
bored, gives them a chance to engage in mischievous activities;
others go downtown and sit at traffic lights hoping that someone
will pick them up and offer them temporary menial employment (this
scene is commonplace and we are confronted with it every day when
we leave for work).Some, frustrated, turn to violence or
alcoholism.The situation of hopelessness for these youngsters is
written all over their faces.In a situation of poverty and
helplessness, many people in many of our townships turn to
alcohol.This is easy to do as alcohol is easily accessible in our
townships.The use and abuse of alcohol is also indirectly promoted
through our policies and the way we give out trading licences in
Katutura. For example, in The Namibian of 13 September, 2004 with
reference to the Rezoning of Erven, in one street alone (Eveline
Street, Goreangab) 26 erven were going to be rezoned to sell
alcohol.These liquor activities are in the township were the
majority of the poor and Grade 10 dropouts are residing, while no
(or few) liquor businesses or shebeens are to be found operating
from people's homes in the suburbs.Ironically, we react with shock
and disbelief when people commit these activities because they are
under the influence of alcohol.Perhaps we need to re- evaluate how
we licence liquor activities.As a society influenced by the
patriarchal structure, we still unrealistically hang on to the
traditional definition of what it means to be a man irrespective of
the high unemployment rate and weakened traditional values,
compounded by the increase of the number of women who are
educated.For example, the University of Namibia reported that out
of 1045 graduates, 646 were females (61 percent) with males making
up 399 (UNAM annual report 2002).Also the majority of the
programmes, both governmental and non-governmental, are geared
towards empowering women.Consequently, men devise ways to maintain
their masculinity and to sustain their self-esteem.For some, to
redress their position of marginalisation and powerlessness, they
join political leaders; gangsters; diamond dealers and car
syndicates, others become cash thieves - all for the sake of
maintaining masculinity.Other men direct their feelings of
powerlessness and marginalization to rape and violence.They turn to
abuse and misuse of women and children. When men experience a lack
of power or feelings of emasculation; they have to heighten their
masculine insecurities.Given the fact that manhood is associated
with power, and being powerless is seen as unmanly, violence
becomes a means to prove otherwise to others and oneself.(Kaufman,
1997).Ironically, the majority of our programmes do not address the
challenges facing men, the programmes are all geared towards
empowering women.This is an unhealthy approach given the fact that
most of the problems come about because of the powerlessness of men
and other factors.The definition of manhood needs to be adjusted to
the current social, economic and political realities.According to
Hooks, (1995) … "To expect men to act as protectors and
providers as a way of earning the status of patriarch seems
ludicrous given the economy, the shift in gender roles, the
inability of many black males to provide either economically or
emotionally for themselves and their inability to protect
themselves against life-threatening white supremacist patriarchal
assault, with which they are all too often complicit for example,
black on black homicide.The homicide is itself an expression of
patriarchal masculinity, as it is patriarchy that demands that
males prove their manhood…" It is unrealistic and unfair to
do this to our men.In conclusion, this paper is aimed at starting
the debate on the definition of manhood and what society can do to
address the challenges facing us as a nation.As the paper argues,
while it is a privilege to have power, power also creates fear and
pain.And some respond differently to fear and to the wounds they
experience in the quest for power.They devise mechanisms to
maintain their masculinity (employment; politics; gangsterism; car
syndicates); others direct their feelings of powerlessness and
marginalization to rape and violence.They turn to abuse and misuse
of women and children. Understanding the concept of manhood is
critical to our ability to address the symptoms of violence and
rape in our society.These include, among others: * A realistic
definition of manhood, taking into consideration the socio economic
realities.* Implementing mechanisms to support single parents with
parenting.(How do we expect young boys to behave differently if
they do not have any role models?) * Re-think programmes that only
focus on women and make funding available that support programmes
that are gender neutral.* Time to control the number of shebeens in
the townships, and provide training to community members how to
drink 'responsibly'.Before we complain about the number of criminal
activities, and the crime committed by the youth, we need to
rethink the policy of not accommodating grade 10 dropout one way or
another in the community.Do we need to have an affordable,
accessible, available high school, which provides quality education
to grade 10 dropouts? We also need to look at how we address other
factors that contribute to this sorry situation.Notes: Hooks,
bell.(1992). Reconstructing Black Masculinity.In Black Looks: Race
and Representation.Boston, MA: South End Press (Also in Perchuk,
Andrew and Posner, Helaine.(eds).(1995). Hof c. & Richter, A
(1996) Teenage Pregnancy in Zimbabwe: Problematic or Not? Early
childbearing in historical and socio-cultural
perspective".Unpublished. Kaufman, M. (1997) Longer Articles on
Men, Masculinity, and Men's Violence. The Seven P's of Men's
Violence. Men, Feminism, and Men's Contradictory Experiences of
Power HYPERLINK www.michaelkaufman.com/longarticles.html
www.michaelkaufman.com/longarticles.html Access 19/08/2000
University of Namibia (2002) Annual Report, Printech * The author
of this opinion piece, Pandu Hailonga, has just completed a Phd
thesis entitled: Adolescent Sexuality and reproductive Behaviour in
Nambia: A socio-historical analysis.