Adolescent Males’ Aggressive Sexual Behaviour and Traditional Norms

Abstract

Adolescent males who harbour aggression, show conformity to peers, less social skills and resentment towards their parents, tend to have propensity to display anti-social behaviour. Based on gender-strain theory, they indulge in alcohol and express their hegemonic masculinity by being involved with multiple sexual partners. To investigate the causal factors and outcomes of sexual aggressive behaviour, nine adolescent males (doing Grade 11), were purposively selected from one secondary school in Eastern Cape, South Africa. This paper employed an explorative qualitative approach and adhered to the following ethics; informed consent, confidentiality and protection from harm to safeguard the dignity of the participants. The findings revealed that inadequate parental guidance from permissive and authoritarian parents, peer influence and alcohol abuse are factors disinhibiting sexual aggressive behaviour among youth. Recommendations are that sex- education should be taught at schools and parents should communicate with their children.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2799