Effect of Boyhood Construction on Children Roles in Gender Dynamics in Rwanda 'A case study of Kimisagara sector.'

International Journal of Humanities and Social Science

© 2020 by SSRG - IJHSS Journal

Volume 7 Issue 5

Year of Publication : 2020

Authors : IRANGENEYE Aurore, Gaspard GAPARAYI

10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V7I5P109

How to Cite?

IRANGENEYE Aurore, Gaspard GAPARAYI, "Effect of Boyhood Construction on Children Roles in Gender Dynamics in Rwanda 'A case study of Kimisagara sector.'," SSRG International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 7,  no. 5, pp. 72-80, 2020. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V7I5P109

Abstract:

Studies show that gender identity is one of the greatest significant controllers of the societal lifecycle.
It shapes a large part of children's identity development, and consequently, boys and girls are socialized to develop differently during childhood and adolescence.
Additionally, in some circumstances, this can lead to negative results. Gender socialization starts at birth, increases throughout puberty, and contributes to gender differences in social and economic activities. Furthermore, gender socialization is a key determinant of boys to approve conventional attitudes associated with maleness.
To explore the boyhood construction and its effects on children roles in gender dynamics in Rwandan society, the sample of 100 people was drawn in the Kimisagara sector, including boys, girls, parents, local leaders, teachers, and people from government institutions and Non-Government institutions including boys/men project managers, children right promotion and protection program coordinators/managers were selected by chance for this study. The study refers to the theoretical paradigms of New Sociology of Childhood and Post Structural Feminist theoretical framework that act as an analytical tool to know the complex behaviors of how boys conceptualize sense for themselves as gendered beings. Mixed-methods data collection techniques, including quantitative surveys and Focus Group Discussions with students and out of schoolgirls and boys, interviews with Key Informants, and researcher observation, were applied. The study found that 97% of the respondents believe that parents have a preference for a son at conception, 96% of the respondents believe that boys learn to become men from a young age, while 95% of the respondents believe that boyhood construction is reinforced through gender discrimination and gender inequality. Furthermore, the study shows that the effects of boyhood construction to children roles in gender dynamics are girls' discrimination (96%), emotional violence (95%), suicide (95%), sexual violence (94%), physical violence (90%), economic violence (90%), overconfidence (87%), and gender inequality (87%). The regression analysis techniques have shown that boyhood identity construction has a negative effect on gender dynamics in Rwanda. Thus, boyhood construction does negatively affect children's roles in gender dynamics in Rwanda. Moreover, the study reveals that all stakeholders should actively aim to address this situation: parents should raise through children using processes that enhance gender equality in families; teachers should create a genderresponsive environment for students, and the Government of Rwanda should work through an education program with girls and boys themselves to reduce patriarchal system in Rwanda.

Keywords:

Boyhood, construction, children, roles, gender, dynamics

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