"Stammering less so that I can be more of a man": discourses of masculinities among young adult men in the Western Cape, South Africa, who stutter

Abstract

The past 3 decades have seen researchers increasingly examine masculinity within the context of disability. However, there remains a gap in impairment-specific research. The present study seeks to examine the discourses of masculinities among young adult men in Western Cape Province who stutter. Semi structured interviews and focus groups were used to collect data from 15 men who stutter. In analyzing the data, a combination of discursive and applied psychological perspectives was used. Specific attention was given to the emotional processes that men experience ascribing to, resisting and challenging hegemonic ideals of masculinity. The findings revealed that men predominantly drew on hegemonic norms to construct their masculinities, emphasizing the importance of occupying a position of power and control, especially when interacting with other heterosexual men and potential dating and sexual partners. Men at times also presented contrary and competing subject positions, simultaneously accepting and rejecting certain practices of dominant masculinity in their daily lives, specifically in relation to female figures (such as mothers and friends) and homosexual men. It was evident that the process of negotiating these multiple versions of masculinity was not easy. At times, men indicated struggling to negotiate their stutter with dominant masculine ideals, which led to reduced self-esteem and self-confidence and negative emotions and feelings of shame, weakness, emasculation, and inadequacy. In instances where participants resisted hegemonic ideals, they formulated affirmative masculinities in line with, and accepting of, their impairment. Implications for future masculinities research in the context of disability are discussed.