Violence among boys: the case study of Nairobi

Abstract

Recognizing sexual violence as a hindrance to development is particularly important for addressing the social, cultural and economic arrangements that inhibit or suppress the realization of human rights. For violence costs development: - it depletes resources and its impact luay be measured in terms of costs and efficiency. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sexual violence a1110ng boys in Nairobi, specifically to explore the extent to which boys in Nairobi are sexually violated, to find out who are most likel y to be the perpetra tors of sexual violence among boys and to explore factors that influence silence ampng boys when they are ~ sexually violated. Th8f':~",-aata collection •. methods used were questionnaires, key informant interviews as well as Focus Group Discussions. A sample of two hundred and forty (240) students from four (4) urban high schools, in, Nairobi were nandornly selected for the administration of the questionnaires. The Questionnaires were also administered to a purp,osively selected sample of twenty (20) I University students. Four (4) guidance and counselling teachers, three (3) family counsellors and two (2) media houses were purposively selected and interviewed. Finally two (2) Focus Group Discussions were also conducted in two of the previously selected urban high schools. To guide the study, objectives and research questions were formulated, the research was conducted and the data was thereafter analyzed and presen~fd using pie charts and tables. The study confirmed that despite the silence that surrounds sexual violation an10ng boys, the boy child significantly suffers from sexual violence. The boy child has been left unattended and is therefore an endangered species as much concentration has been on the girl child. The study also revealed that the culture of silence is also very prevalent an10ng boys and the patriarchal system only perpetuates silence and hinders the ability of boys to report incidences of sexual violence. The society needs to decode the n1essage that lithe vast majority of victims of sexual assaultjarc women and or girls". Implicit in this message is the suggestion that the "others" the victims who do not constitute the majority, simply don't count. The recommendations for the study include; the need t; sensitize young boys on sexual violence, seek to re-orient them on the'need to open up on all forms of sexual abuse and demand for justice if they experience any incidence of sexual violence. There is also 'need to encourage debate and dialogues on sexuality and masculinity within the institutions of learning and the country at large.