Moving beyond stereotypes to understand masculinity in Africa

• Author: Publications Office
• Pages: 3-4

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Moving beyond stereotypes

to understand masculinity

in Africa

A project examining norms and practices of masculinity in three African countries has

underlined the role of the state, the need to depart from Western-centred gender theories

and, thus, the key importance of local context.

Men in Africa are often depicted in stereotypes. “Some stereotypes

are similar to those about Western men,” explains Becoming Men

(Performing responsible masculinities in contemporary urban

Africa) principal investigator Eileen Moyer, associate professor

of anthropology at the University of Amsterdam. “They are

portrayed as being less emotional, less engaged in family care

work, and more invested in the provider role.”

Moyer argues that such stereotypes are often amplified when

describing African men. “The unspoken presumption is that we

have solved inequality in the West,” she adds. “Western experts

then attempt to teach African people about gender equality,

with little attempt to understand existing norms and practices.

There is the presumption that African gender norms and sexual

practices are static, conservative and ‘backward’.”

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