Gendered Perceptions of Boyhood: The Perceptions of Male and Female High School Learners in Eswatini

This study explored how male and female high school learners in Eswatini have gendered views of masculinity and how these views influenced their identities and actions in school. A qualitative case study methodology was used to gather data from 24 purposefully chosen 16–18-year-old students (12 boys and 12 girls) from four coeducational high schools in the Hhohho region, Eswatini, through semi-structured individual and focus group interviews. According to the research, boys frequently viewed aggression and risk-taking as innate qualities, demonstrating how hegemonic masculinity shapes ideas of masculinity. While girls reported experiencing sexual harassment from male students and authoritative figures, boys voiced opinions that justified risky and violent behaviors as necessary components of their masculinity. This study demonstrates how both male and female learners have a negative view of boys and associate them with sexual aggression and possible criminal activity. The study recommends that educational institutions confront and eliminate harmful masculine stereotypes in order to create spaces that support equity and students’ healthier gender identity expressions.