Constructions of Masculinity and Sexuality amongst Black Rural Blind Men in South Africa

Tendamudzimu Anza Dagada; Lindokuhle Ubisi

doi:10.25159/2412-8457/19293

Authors

Tendamudzimu Anza Dagada University of South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3104-0086
Lindokuhle Ubisi University of South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-8457/19293

Keywords:

masculinity, sexuality, visual impairment, Black men, construction, rural setting

Abstract

Black visually impaired men (BVIM) living in rural contexts remain an underrepresented minority among African masculinities. Part of the reason for this is how these men are framed by their communities as non-existent, and if noticed, as genderless, sexless, and infertile. The aim of this study was to explore the constructions of masculinity and sexuality among BVIM living in a rural South African context. Seven BVIM from the Vhembe District in Limpopo Province, South Africa, were individually interviewed and data were analysed using Bourdieu’s theory. Despite the societal stigma and misconceptions, these men actively resist and reconstruct narratives about their sexual and gender identities, asserting their agency in ways that defy traditional norms. Their experiences challenge the idea that disability should limit sexual expression, reinforcing that sexuality is a deeply personal experience that transcends physical limitations. Future research should adopt intersectional and comparative approaches to examine how constructions of masculinity and sexuality among Black visually impaired men vary across social contexts and over time, including the influence of place, relationships, and community attitudes.

Author Biography

Tendamudzimu Anza Dagada, University of South Africa

University of South, Department of Psychology

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