Xhosa Masculinities and Manhood in South Africa: Exploring Disability, Embodiment and Identity

Conversations about masculinity are evolving, yet the nuanced experiences of men navigating intersecting identities often remain overlooked. Among traditionally circumcised Xhosa men in rural Eastern Cape, South Africa, the interplay of physical disability and manhood challenges dominant narratives, offering a profound lens through which to examine broader themes of embodiment, identity, and cultural tradition.

Xhosa Masculinities and Manhood in South Africa: Exploring Disability, Embodiment and Identity provides an interdisciplinary exploration of what it means to be a traditionally initiated Xhosa man with a visible physical disability. This work addresses critical gaps in the literature by centring the body as a site of analysis and integrating African-centred theories of masculinities. Employing qualitative methods, including interviews, group discussions, and auto-ethnographic reflections, this unique study presents a rich tapestry of lived experiences. It challenges Western-centric paradigms of hegemonic masculinities and posits new theoretical frameworks grounded in African philosophy, sociology, and anthropology. Through its innovative approach, this volume contributes to the growing scholarship on intersectionality, embodiment, and identity in non-Western contexts.

Offering invaluable insights for scholars in masculinities studies, disability studies, and African-centred philosophy, this work is an essential resource for those interested in understanding the complexity of manhood in contemporary cultural and sociological landscapes.

• Publication date: 31 August 2026
• Page count: 160
• Dimensions: Height 229 mm; Width 152 mm; Thickness 15 mm
• Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9781837088379