Nelson Mandela's masculinities

Abstract

What constitutes a man is very relevant to post-apartheid South Africa, which experiences widespread violence, committed mainly by men. Across all sections of the population models of manhood are mainly of the rough, tough variety and resort to force is often a preferred method of resolving differences. The intricate strands of Nelson Mandela's evolving masculinity introduce a complexity that may contribute towards boys and men exploring ways of ?being men? which are not only strong but also gentle. With Mandela one is not dealing with a person whose identity as a man can be reduced to one quality that endured over time, whether in his early life or later, because of changes initiated by shifting conditions and influences, or more directly through his own agency. For much of Mandela's life he is self-conscious of what manhood entails and constantly probes whether he measures up to what he sees as its qualities, though over time he enriches his understanding of what it means....