Celebrating 30 years of masculinities scholarship in the South African Journal of Psychology

Abstract

The study of masculinities, and its intersection with psychology, has been a significant area of inquiry in South Africa. This article examines the development of masculinities scholarship in South Africa by analysing articles published in the South African Journal of Psychology between 1994 and 2024. Of the 165 gender-related articles published in the South African Journal of Psychology during this time, 66 specifically focused on men and masculinities. Utilizing Foucauldian Discourse Analysis, these articles were examined to identify three prominent discourses: (1) gender, sexuality, and violence; (2) health and wellness; and (3) fatherhood. The findings of the analysis reveal a discernible shift in the discourses surrounding masculinities over the last three decades. Specifically, there is a movement away from essentialist constructions of masculinity, towards more positive and egalitarian perspectives of masculinities that are non-hegemonic, non-violent, and non-risktaking. The study’s findings have significant implications for future research on masculinities in South Africa, particularly in the areas of decolonial African-centred masculinities studies.