Rethinking Manhood: Rhodes University Students Challenge Cultural Norms and Promote Positive Masculinity

By: Lance Myburgh

At a time when South Africa continues to grapple with gender-based violence, the conversation reflected Rhodes University’s commitment to fostering critical dialogue and empowering students to play an active role in building safer, more equitable communities.

On 4 March 2026, male students from Joe Slovo, Centenary House, Stanley Kidd, and Guy Butler residences gathered at Nelson Mandela Hall for a conversation that challenged one of society’s most deeply ingrained ideas: what it means to be a man. The dialogue, part of Rhodes University’s Positive Masculinity series of conversations, invited male students to confront the social expectations, cultural norms, and personal choices that shape masculinity and its impact on relationships, responsibility, and community life.

Ahead of the event, organisers clearly framed the purpose: to create a space where students could rethink the meaning of manhood in a changing society. Facilitated by Rhodes Change Agents Lazarus Kgageng and Larona Matee from the University’s Equity and Institutional Culture Office, the discussion invited students to explore how culture, tradition, media, and social expectations shape masculinity. Early in the evening, the facilitators challenged the assumption that masculinity is something fixed or universal. “This kind of stuff is not maths or physics,” one facilitator explained during the session. “This is a social phenomenon and a social construct.” The idea resonated with many students in the room. Participants spoke about the expectations placed on men in different cultural contexts, reflecting on how ideas about strength, authority, and emotional restraint often determine whether someone is recognised as a “real man”.

One student reflected on the powerful influence of cultural traditions on identity. “The culture moulds the man,” he said, capturing how social expectations often shape behaviour and personal choices. At Rhodes University, conversations like these are part of a broader effort to encourage student introspection. Rather than focusing only on awareness campaigns or statistics, the Positive Masculinity initiative creates spaces where young men can examine their own assumptions and understand how those assumptions affect others.

Consent emerged as one of the most debated topics of the evening. While students broadly agreed that consent involves mutual agreement and respect, the discussion revealed how easily misunderstandings can arise when social expectations about relationships go unchallenged.

Several scenarios raised during the dialogue sparked animated debate, particularly around the pressure often placed on men to pursue relationships even after rejection. For many participants, the conversation highlighted the importance of clearer communication and mutual respect.

The facilitators also emphasised the importance of understanding the legal and ethical responsibilities that govern relationships and personal conduct. “Not to make you scared of the law,” Larona told the group, “But understand how to work with the law.”

Students also reflected on the influence of media and popular culture, discussing how music videos, social media, and entertainment often portray women in ways that reinforce harmful stereotypes and shape attitudes towards relationships. Yet the focus of the conversation was not simply on identifying problems. Instead, facilitators encouraged students to think about the role men can play in challenging harmful norms and building healthier communities.

One of the key messages of the evening was the importance of peer accountability. Men, the facilitators argued, are often best positioned to challenge harmful behaviour within their own social circles. “We as gentlemen in these spaces hold each other accountable,” Kgageng told the group.

For Rhodes University, initiatives like the Positive Masculinity programme reflect a broader commitment to serving the common good. By creating spaces where students can grapple with difficult social questions, the university aims to translate research and knowledge into meaningful action that benefits society beyond the campus.

As the discussion came to an end, small groups of students lingered in conversation around the hall. Some continued debating the ideas raised during the session, while others reflected quietly on what they had heard. What became clear was that the evening had opened an important space: one where young men could begin to question inherited ideas about masculinity and consider how their choices shape the communities they are part of.

In a country still confronting the realities of gender-based violence, those conversations may prove to be one of the most powerful tools for change.