Hegemonic African masculinities and men's heterosexual lives: some uses for homophobia

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Periodical article

Title:	Hegemonic African masculinities and men's heterosexual lives: some uses for homophobia
Author:	Ratele, Kopano
Year:	2014
Periodical:	African Studies Review (ISSN 1555-2462)
Volume:	57
Issue:	2
Pages:	115-130
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Malawi South Africa
Subjects:	homosexuality gender discrimination masculinity
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1017/asr.2014.50
Abstract:	Based on two relatively well-reported cases of homophobia in Malawi and South Africa, this article aims to show some of the ways in which hegemonic African men and masculinities are unsettled by, but also find ideological use for, the existence of homosexuality and nonheteronormative sexualities. Deploying the notion of psychopolitics, the article traces the interpenetrating psychosocial and sociopolitical aspects of homophobia. The argument is that analyses of issues of lesbian, gay, and 'othered' sexualities are vital for a fuller understanding of the production of hegemonic forms of gender and masculinity in Africa. The article suggests that the threat posed by homosexuality is used as a distraction for some of the socioeconomic development-related failures of Africa's ruling men but also, more significantly, for the impossibility of hegemonic African masculinity itself. Bibliogr., note, sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]