How Boys Become Dogs: Stigmatization and Marginalization of Uninitiated Xhosa Males in East London, South Africa

Abstract

Male circumcision is practiced in South Africa among the Xhosa people as a rite of passage from boyhood to manhood. The manhood status achieved after the ritual accords men power and authority in the community over women and uncircumcised men. Therefore, uninitiated men experience great pressures to get circumcised. We describe the experience of newly initiated Xhosa men in East London, South Africa. Interpretive phenomenology was used as the inquiry of choice. Data were collected through focus group discussions in which 14 men participated. The theme of marginalization of uninitiated Xhosa males emerged with two categories: (a) rejection, and (b) lack of respect. The participants revealed that uninitiated men are rejected by the community, their own families, friends, and women. We frame the discussion around the concept of stigma. Acknowledging that uninitiated males are stigmatized can help mitigate stigma, and in turn, the incidence of medical complications from botched circumcisions.

Dangerous to mix: culture and politics in a traditional circumcision in South Africa.

“…The theme of marginalization of uninitiated Xhosa speaking males emerged with two categories, either rejection or lack of respect. The uninitiated men are rejected by the community, their own families, friends, and women 10 . TM was convinced by his peer group to get circumcised, as he sought to avoid the risk of marginalization in his community.…”

Mentoring, masculinity and reparation in Mgqolozana’s A Man Who is Not a Man

“…We recognize the problems with ulwaluko -specifically the botched circumcisions and the negative pressures brought to bear on young men branded 'dogs' for seeking medical intervention at a hospital (see Mavundla, netswera, Toth, Bottoman, & Tenge, 2010). But in many ways, ulwaluko has been over-simplified, if not reviled, and reduced to 'a tidy sound bite/moment' devoid of religious and social complexities (Gqola, 2007, p. 151).…”

Positive Men: searching for relational dignity through health activism in a South African township

“…In this respect, the Xhosa rite of passage towards manhood (ulwaluko), through which gendered moral dispositions were commonly transmitted, has been criticised. It became associated with heteronormativity, coercion, physical tortures, and the discrimination of women and non-initiated men (Kometsi 2004;Mavundla et al 2010). The practice was, nevertheless, seen as key to the establishment of dignity among the health activists I encountered.…”