Hegemonic Masculinity and Male Powerlessness: A Reflection on African Men’s Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Despite popular assumptions of male power, there are circumstances where the power of men is not decisive or even evident. One such instance is in intimate relationships with women. While a huge literature testifies to the violence of men in these relationships, a less-developed strand of study shows that men can be on the receiving end of violence. There is, therefore, a paradox—of male power (described in the literature and captured in concepts such as Connell’s hegemonic masculinity) that is universal and results in the subordination of women; and of male powerlessness. The latter condition is seldom the focus of research work. This article investigates men who are the recipients of violence while in intimate relationships with women and explores the implications of this violence for conceptualisations of masculinity.

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