‘You are not a real man until you have scored’ masculine discourses and teenage pregnancy

Abstract

Despite the implementation of sex education programmes directed at reducing teenage pregnancy in Namibia, the battle seems to be lost as it continues to increase annually. In the light of this challenge, this article aims at discussing the role masculine discourses play in teenage pregnancy during boy's conversations in the Kavango East region. Focus group discussions and individual (face-to-face) interviews were used to collect data. The study is underpinned by social learning theory to analyse focus group and individual (face-to-face) interviews data with adolescent boys aged 17–20 years in public secondary schools. The study reveals that the discourses about masculinity when boys meet plays a part in sexual relationship decisions which sometimes lead to impregnation. During these conversations, boys use the word ‘score’, which refers to impregnating a girl to tease those who are never impregnated. The authors suggest that traditional authorities should include topics about positive masculinity targeting boys who are the main perpetrators during community meetings.

Keywords

• masculinity
• sexuality
• teenage pregnancy